European Cup news: Northampton will face one of the most daunting challenges in European rugby when they tackle Agen tonight.

The English side travels to the Stade Armandie, knowing their French hosts are virtually unbeatable on their own soil. Agen have lost just one of their last 53 home games - against Montferrand more than two years ago - and will put a severe dent in Northampton's quarter-final ambitions if they maintain that proud record this evening.

Northampton are currently top of Pool Four, but only on try-count above Llanelli, who should secure a five-point maximum against Stradey Park visitors the Borders.

"No-one is expecting us to go over there and deal with their pack - they are saying we will get munched up - and we know we have to win that battle up-front," said Northampton coach Wayne Smith, who is without injured England internationals Matt Dawson and Nick Beal.

"We were pretty pleased when we heard the result in Agen last weekend, because if Llanelli had won that one, then they could have been out of touch, but now it is only the try-count that separates us. Agen's win over the Scarlets means they have lost just one of their last 53 home games - and that tells you exactly how big the challenge is for us.

"A record like that does not mean that you cannot do it, but we are going to have to be spot-on mentally and physically to pull it off."

Llanelli will, meanwhile, target tries, and plenty of them, against the Borders, who have the worst record of all 24 teams in this season's Heineken Cup competition.

"The main thing is that our future is in our own hands," said acting Llanelli captain Vernon Cooper. "We aren't depending on anyone else's results, like we've had to do in other years. If we win the next two, then that's it."

In total contrast to the Borders' miserable struggle, Edinburgh will make Scottish rugby history if they beat Neath-Swansea Ospreys today and Toulouse come unstuck at Leeds on Sunday and do not collect a losing bonus point. No Scottish team has ever reached the European Cup knockout stages, but that significant prize now stands tantalisingly close for coach Frank Hadden and his unbeaten Pool Two leaders.

Celtic Warriors coach Lynn Howells admits it is "make or break time" for his team in tonight's Pool Six encounter with Perpignan at the Brewery Field.

Warriors must win their last two games - against Perpignan and Calvisano - and then rely on other results working for them if they are to secure quarter-final status.

"It is a must-win game for us - it's a massive match," said Howells. "We showed we could compete with Perpignan when we played at their place last month, but we must get our set-piece right."