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Home nations hope

Sky Bet's rugby union expert believes England's representatives can shine in this weekend's action.

By Jordan Fiddes - Twitter: @SkyJordanFiddes

Last Updated: 09/01/14 2:01pm

Charlie Walker: Try scorer in Harlequins last outing in the Heineken Cup
Charlie Walker: Try scorer in Harlequins last outing in the Heineken Cup

There is still plenty to play for as we head into the penultimate pool round of this season's Heineken Cup.

Toulon remain the favourites to claim the European crown for the second year running, but they are followed closely by fellow Frenchmen Clermont, who are 4/1.

Of the two, the latter outfit face the sterner test this week.

Jean-Marc Lhermet's men cross the pond to tackle a resurgent Harlequins side desperate for a win to take into the knockout stages of the prestigious cup competition.

The home side were beaten by seven points - which is 4/1 this week - in France in October but recent performances has given a little optimism to the Twickenham Stoop faithful.

They go into the game as very slight outsiders - they have a +1 handicap - but, as they are desperate for a win to confirm their place in the next round, they could be good value outright at 11/10.

Kingsholm fortress

Of the other fixtures on Saturday, Gloucester welcome Munster to Kingsholm in a bid to overturn the 26-10 defeat they encountered back in October against the Irish giants.

Since that victory, however, the two-time Heineken Cup winners have slipped from 10/1 to 14/1 to lift the trophy in 2014.

They are still strong favourites to overcome the threat posed by Gloucester - who were beaten 29-8 at this venue last weekend.

That has seen the Cherry and White's gain a five-point handicap ahead of this one - the same handicap they overcame in Round One against Perpignan.

They suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Edinburgh in the last pool match so they'll need to record only their third win over Munster - at 7/4 - to keep ahead of the Scots in the race for second place in Pool Six.

Super Sarries

It's a huge encounter on Sunday as Aviva Premiership leaders Saracens travel to Toulouse in an attempt to avenge the last-gasp defeat they suffered at Wembley in October last year.

Both sides stand at 15/2 to win this year's Heineken Cup with Sarries the shortest price of any other English side.

They will have to be on top form if they are to beat Toulouse of course, but that's something they have come close to in recent weeks with comfortable wins over Gloucester and Leicester the most notable.

They are the outsiders to overturn that defeat at Wembley and have a five-point "head start" over the Frenchmen.

The Stade Ernest Wallon has been raided once in this year's competition, however, as Connacht snatched the points from the hosts back in December.

Having beaten Toulouse twice in three meetings, Mark McCall's men could be a good bet at 7/4 outright to inflict a second defeat on Toulouse's home turf this season.

Fiddes fancies

Saracens and Harlequins both to win: 7/2

Sarries have been irresistible of late - winning their last six games in the Premiership - and Quins have won their last two in the Heineken Cup.

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