A look at pool four
HEINEKEN CUP PEDIGREE:Three-times winners and five-time finalists, only the eventual winners Leinster could stop the Tigers in two of the last three seasons. Clermont are capable of hitting great heights but always seem to throw in at least one desultory away display, and hence have only progressed once in last five attempts. And as their five defeats away to Leinster and Munster underline, in classically French style they can be vulnerable away from home. Last season, Ulster made the quarter-finals for the first time since wining the Cup in 1999.
FORMGUIDE:Tenth domestically after two wins in eight matches, Leicester appear careworn around the edges, and looked short in midfield without Manu Tuilagi at home to London Irish last week. Sated by winning the bouclier du brennus two seasons ago, Clermont's back play lost its way without Joe Schmidt last season. They invested heavily (while 19-year-old winger Jean-Marcel Buttin is a star in the making) and despite having 12 players at the World Cup led the table until last weekend, before defeat away to Stade Francais has seen them replaced at the top and a horrible injury for Thomas Domingo has compounded the retirement of Mario Ledesma.
Ulster ended a run of four defeats with their 22-3 win over Connacht last week to lie seventh in the Pro 12, where Aironi are bottom after one win in eight.
FORECAST: Ulster need three home wins, victory at Aironi and at least bonus points to have a chance. They have to beat Clermont at Ravenhill, and hopes have risen after the ominous medical bulletins eased. The pool is likely to hinge on back-to-back meetings in December between Clermont and Leicester, with Clermont looking the more potent. Leicester could accompany them into the last eight.
ODDS: Leicester evens, Clermont Auvergne evens, Ulster 8/1, Aironi 325/1.
FIXTURES: Saturday, Nov 12th: Aironi v Leicester, Ulster v Clermont; Friday, Nov 18th: Clermont v Aironi; Saturday, Nov 19th: Leicester v Ulster; Friday, Dec 9th: Ulsterv Aironi; Sunday, Dec 11th: Clermont v Leicester; Saturday, Dec 17th: Aironi v Ulster, Leicester v Clermont; Jan 13th-15th: Aironi v Clermont, Ulster v Leicester; Jan 20th-22nd: Clermont v Ulster, Leicester v Aironi.
