POOL A: Movers and shakers

Glasgow Caledonians

Coach: Richie Nixon.

Captain: Andrew Nicol.

European Cup record (Glasgow and Caledonians combined): Didn't participate, pool stages, pool stages, pool stages. Pl 23 W 7 D 0 L 16.

How they qualified: Automatically, despite 97-32 three-match aggregate defeat to Edinburgh Reivers.

Key men: Kilted Kiwis Glenn Metcalfe at full back, three-quarter Shaun Longstaff and flanker Gordon Simpson, while Nicol still calls most of the shots at scrumhalf.

Outlook: Have struggled in Welsh/Scottish league, albeit without six World Cup players. Likely to be vying for third place at best, and unlikely to advance.

Leicester

Coach: Dean Richards.

Captain: Martin Johnson.

European Cup record: Didn't participate, finalists, quarterfinalists, didn't participate. Pl 15 W 11 D 0 L 4.

How they qualified: English champions.

Key men: Could conceivably field 14 internationals. Martin Johnson sets the standards up front and if fit Will Greenwood's best form still lies ahead of him, potentially giving the Tigers a sharper midfield claw.

Outlook: Good to excellent. Will be fancied to achieve double over Leinster and Glasgow, and Welford Road will be at its most intimidating for Stade. Should make knock-out stages.

Leinster

Coach: Mike Ruddock.

Captain: Liam Toland.

European Cup record: semi-finalists, pool stages, pool stages, pool stages. Pl 19 W 8 D 0 L 11.

How they qualified: Third in Interprovincial Championship.

Key men: Out-half, whoever he may be. With Barry Everitt short of confidence, Ruddock has recently opted for the inexperienced if useful Mark McHugh, while Daniel Wheston is another option. Everitt is also not out of the picture.

Outlook: Unpromising to bleak. Leicester and Stade Francais have both been to Donnybrook before and the games with Glasgow Caledonians look like deciding third place. First phase exit most likely scenario.

Stade Francais

Coach: Bernard Laporte, as of now.

Captain: Diego Dominguez.

European Cup record: Pl 8 W 6 D 0 L 2.

How they qualified: Technically sixth-ranked of French half dozen, via back door, ie Coupe de France win over Bourgoin.

Key men: Allowing for their three World Cup finalists - Dominci, Juillet and Lievremont - Dominguez still looks the key man. Starting to look a little careworn, has he one big campaign left?

Outlook: Not quite in the class of Toulouse, nor do they have the intimidating galaxy of stars of last season. Anticipated promotion of Laporte to Les Bleus could destabilise as well.