Calvisano, Ospreys, Sale St, Francais: Stade, 10 wins out of 11 domestically with Fabien Galthie rotating home and away "teams" from his vast squad, and Sale, Premiership champions, look set for a two-way fight here.
Sale, a well-balanced all-round team, have cut their Euro teeth in recent years and appear the pick of the English, but Stade look the cream of the French and the fixtures appear to fall more favourably for them.
The Ospreys have again flattered to deceive this season and their desultory away efforts in Connacht and Ulster do not augur well for treks to Manchester and Paris, but they could unhinge the big hitters at home, with tonight's bristling Anglo-Welsh visit of Sale set to make or break their challenge.
Calvisano have beaten Treviso this season but lost last weekend 16-0 at Petrarca. They should be fun to watch without being a threat.
Forecast: Stade Français, perhaps joined by Sale in the last eight.
FIXTURES: Tonight: Ospreys v Sale (7.30). Sunday: Calvisano v Stade Français (2.0). Oct 27th: Sale v Calvisano (7.45). Oct 28th: Stade Français v Ospreys (2.35). Dec 9th: Calvisano v Ospreys (2.0). Dec 10th: Stade Français v Sale (4.0). Dec 15th: Ospreys v Calvisano (7.30). Dec 17th: Sale v Stade Français (3.0). Jan 12th-14th: Calvisano v Sale, Ospreys v Stade Français. Jan 19th-21st: Sale v Ospreys, Stade Français v Calvisano.
