Saturday 23 January 2016 10:32, UK
Saracens target a top-seed finish, Racing ring the changes against Glasgow, Ulster and Northampton go in search of bonus-point wins, while Clermont host Bordeaux, all live on Sky Sports this weekend...
Saracens are already guaranteed a home quarter-final, and a sixth successive Champions Cup pool victory at Toulouse should confirm them as No 1 seeds.
Minus the suspended Chris Ashton, Saracens are one of only two teams that can boast a 100 per cent record after five rounds - and they can set a club record of four consecutive away wins in the European Cup when they travel to the Stade Ernest-Wallon.
They beat Toulouse 32-7 in the opening round at Allianz Park, so the momentum is with Mark McCall's men, but Toulouse is traditionally a tough place to travel.
Ulster could join Saracens in the last eight, but they require a bonus-point win over Oyonnax in Belfast. Saturday's opponents improved Ulster's chances of progressing with their victory over Toulouse last weekend - but Ulster still need an 80-minute four-try performance.
They may also need Leinster to win against Wasps, or there could be no Irish representative in the knock-out stages.
Ulster managed a one-point win in the round one match against Oyonnax, and will be looking to improve on that performance.
Scarlets have lost all five pool fixtures so far and have the second lowest try-count (five) in the competition behind Leinster (three).
Jim Mallinder's Northampton will be looking for five points from their trip to Parc y Scarlets and will be hoping for a slip-up from Wasps, Stade Francais or Clermont Auvergne.
Saints waited until the 79th-minute before scoring the winning try against Glasgow last week, something they can't afford to do against Scarlets who are flying in the PRO12.
Unbeaten Racing 92 have already booked a home quarter-final and Glasgow's late defeat at Northampton on Sunday all-but ended the Scottish side's last-eight chances.
Qualification is still possible, but the home side will need a bonus-point win and a host of other results to go their way.
Racing blew Glasgow away when the two sides met in France, as Dan Carter orchestrated the demise of Gregor Townsend's men. Can they spring a shock on the Top 14 flyers this week?
Clermont Auvergne host Top 14 rivals Bordeaux-Begles. Last year's finalists are expected to extend their 25-game European home winning streak at the Stade Marcel-Michelin but it won't be easy.
A bonus-point victory would move Clermont onto 19 points and should be enough to claim one of the three 'best runners-up' spots - but Ulster and Northampton could profit if Bordeaux score a shock win.
Clermont could not repel a second-half fightback from Ospreys in round 5. The French side were cruising at the Liberty Stadium before Sam Davies guided his side to a victory that keeps Ospreys in the hunt and forces Clermont to achieve a result in the final round if they are to progress.
