Entering the last round of pool matches, only Wasps are guaranteed a quarter-final place while only three teams, Milan, Munster and the Scottish Borders cannot qualify for the play-offs.

The five pool winners qualify for the quarter-finals and will be ranked 1-5 according to the following criteria: most pool points, best points difference, most pool tries, least sendings-off and, finally, if all else fails, the toss of a coin.

The best four will be given home draws. The five runners-up and the best thirdplaced team will be ranked 1-6 by the same criteria, producing the following match-ups 1 v 6, 2 v 5, 3 v 4, in the play-offs on November 1-2. The three winners, along with the fifth ranked pool winners, will consitute the four away sides in the qualifiers. Of the four quarter-final winners, those with the best pool ranking will be placed in the home bag for the semi-finals.