Heineken Cup panel

Miles Harrison, Dean Ryan, Stuart Barnes and Dewi Morris share their thoughts on the Heineken Cup.

Who will top the Heineken Cup Pools?

As Sky Sports prepares to kick off an unrivalled season of 3D and HD Heineken Cup rugby, we speak to our pundits to find out which teams will make it to the knock-out stages. All of our live games will be supported by our esteemed panel of experts, with Stuart Barnes, Dewi Morris, Dean Ryan and Miles Harrison amongst those keeping you up-to-date throughout the competition. And of course there will be 24/7 coverage on skysports.com including our brand new Events Centre, a brand new way to watch live rugby complete with facts, stats and more! Plus there'll breaking news, views and scores around the clock on Sky Sports News HD.

MILES HARRISON

Pool One: Are Munster not going to make it out of the Pool stages for a second year running? Can Northampton use the agony of last season to take them to the summit of Europe? Big questions in a group full of big teams... and don't rule out the Scarlets either - a dangerous card. Winner: Northampton Pool Two: Any of the four sides will feel they can win this Pool if they build up the right momentum early on. The Cardiff Blues and London Irish have both been semi-finalists in recent enough times and desperately want to build on those 'achievements' but Racing Metro and Edinburgh will try and show they are not in it to make up the numbers any more. Winner: Cardiff Blues Pool Three: Leinster are striving to make it three titles in four years and, if they do that, they might well have earned the right to be called the greatest European Cup squad of all time. No Brian O'Driscoll doesn't help - and it is a tricky start away in Montpellier but experience counts bundles in this competition. Glasgow and Bath have to start well and only one can as they meet on Sunday. Winner: Leinster Pool Four: Leicester have not had it their own way in England this season, far from it, but they are always a handful in Europe. Ulster will be desperate to kick on from last season's long-awaited quarter-final and Clermont Auvergne represent France's biggest chance alongside Toulouse. You feel you ought to say Clermont will win the Pool given the way the French Top 14 has started but Leicester tend to find a way through in Europe, either as first or second! Aironi's presence may help with the latter route. Winner: Clermont Auvergne Pool Five: It is Saracens' next big step - a European assault but, first, they have to get past Biarritz and the Ospreys. Playing at Wembley and in Cape Town is visionary but will it hinder Saracens as they lose some home factor feel? The Ospreys have lost some big names but might be a more stable squad this season. And, Treviso's start in the Pro12 suggests they will be something more than a makeweight. Winner: Saracens Pool Six: Another super Pool with two English clubs, Harlequins and Gloucester, clashing and fancying their chances of beating anybody at home, it might well be a question of what they can do away? Toulouse will surely be their normal selves whilst Connacht add a different dimension and could take a least one scalp at home. A fascinating Pool where any slip will be treated with no mercy. Winner: Toulouse

DEAN RYAN

Pool 1: This is the toughest Pool and I think it will be a battle between Munster and Northampton. Scarlets are the unknown factor here and it is hard to write them off. I just don't think they are strong enough to maintain their campaign against the other two. However, I think the Welsh outfit will have a big say in who goes through. Pool 2: All these sides are inconsistent and it is a real opportunity for Cardiff to dominate. Can Sam Warburton drive his club side like he did the national side? Racing are the big name side but have poor form on the road and this as big a chance as ever for a Welsh side to get to the play-offs. Pool 3: Leinster are the draw card and the only question mark is Brian O'Driscoll. But I cannot see anyone else really bothering them and I think we are asking a lot of Stephen Donald to drive Bath into Europe. Leinster through but questions on whether they can win the title again without O'Driscoll. Pool 4: This is a cracking group and I fancy Leicester. Clermont on the road have never been able to do it in Europe. Ulster will feature in some big games but can they keep the intensity up that is needed throughout the tournament? This will be Leicester's final throw because the Premiership is looking increasingly difficult. Pool 5: I think Saracens will be the team to watch but the question is have they learnt the lessons from last year? It is not the toughest group but Biarritz will be tough and I think if Saracens can win a big game on the road then they will come through it. Pool 6: Six months ago this looked like a stroll for Toulouse but Harlequins will make this very interesting. I still think Toulouse will triumph but I think the results between Quins and Gloucester may dictate if one of those can grab a second place or even force Toulouse into second place. Toulouse will just do enough - they may lose on the road to someone but they will just scrape through and that may open up the door for a second place.

STUART BARNES

Pool 1: I think that this might be the year that Northampton edge out Munster in the Pool stages. Saints have a bit more power upfront and I think that will come to the fore this campaign. You can never write off the flair of the Scarlets though and the player to watch out for in Pool 1 is Rhys Priestland. He was one of the stars of the World Cup and there will be a lot of interest to see how he goes in the Heineken Cup. Pool 2: Despite their indifferent start to the league Cardiff still have a core of players who could prevail. Jamie Roberts is the obvious man to watch out for. He was world class in the Lions tour and regained that form for the World Cup. Now it remains to see if he can find that form on a slightly smaller stage. Pool 3: Leinster have to be the favourites to top this Pool. They were impressive winners last year and even without Brian O'Driscoll that will be a formidable team. Stephen Donald went from fourth choice fly-half to World Cup hero for New Zealand. Now he is thrown into the deep end at Bath and the Rec faithful will hope he can bring some of the sort of shape that Butch James could never quiet manage. Pool 4: With Leicester wobbling, my tip for this Pool is Clermont Auvergne. They have certainly paid their dues in this tournament and I think this is their time to rise. John Afoa is a great signing for Ulster - he is very quick around the park but his scrummaging skills will solidify the Ulster pack and give them the platform they need. Pool 5: Despite my reservations surrounding the limitations of their game I think Saracens' team spirit will see them through. A lot has been made of the Ospreys losing Mike Phillips but I think Samoa's Kahn Fotuali'i is actually a better No.9 than Phillips and will serve them very well. Pool 6: How can I pick anyone but Harlequins? But alas I must. Toulouse have such experience and such flair and will be a very tough team to beat. So much is talked about their backs but their game is based on forward strength. Gurthro Steenkamp is a massive signing for them and will send the Toulouse scrum back into overdrive. The Springbok loose head is a bullock of a ball carrier but has developed, more importantly, into just about the best technical loose head on the planet. He has been signed specifically to get the Heineken Cup back for Toulouse.

DEWI MORRIS

Pool 1: Saints to surface, I think they will always bear the scars of that final defeat to Leinster last year, but it is time to put things right and I think they will come out of Pool 1 at the top. Look out for Tom Wood - he was looked over for the World Cup and is a phenomenal talent. Expect him to really make a mark. Pool 2: If Bowden stays fit and big Bob Casey comes back from injury and Homer's Howitzer's sail over the bar then they could be in with a chance. They showed their spirit by coming back to draw with Leicester at Welford Rd which will give them plenty of confidence in this group. Main man is Dan Bowden - he is absolutely sensational. Pool 3: Even without BOD I just cannot see anyone else but Leinster. They use the league as a training ground for the Heineken Cup and they will be chomping at the bit for this tournament. The man to watch will be Fergus McFadden who will take over from O'Driscoll at 13. He is a great player but those are some boots to fill. Pool 4: Clermont have been consistently good in their league and with Morgan Parra back at No.9 and not at ten will be their main man. I think Leicester will come out of this group too as the best losers. If they don't then some serious questions will be asked of the players and the management. Pool 5: After the turmoil of Europe last year I expect Saracens to come right. They are growing into a bigger and better side where money is no object. They are very ambitious and could go a long way. It will be interesting to see how Joel Tomkins fits into their set-up, but the man to watch is Owen Farrell. Big things are expected of him; he has a very old head on some young shoulders. I see Biarritz to come out of this group as best losers too. Pool 6: It's hard luck for Harlequins and Gloucester but I think Toulouse will top this Pool. They have all the experience and knowledge to make it a quartet of Heineken Cup titles. The big South African prop Guthro Steenkamp is the man for them.