Some top rugby players give their views on Munster's visit to Gloucester on Saturday.

MIKE ROSS

(HARLEQUINS)

What if anything makes Kingsholm a formidable venue for a visiting team?

For most people it would be "The Shed", where the hardcore Gloucester fans congregate, hanging over the railings and shouting abuse. It's not nasty but they're certainly passionate and it's not dissimilar to the atmosphere at Thomond Park. When you're warming up you can pretty much hear every comment, although you'd never take it to heart. It's great that with the development of the venue they have retained the Shed because that's the heartbeat for the noise and passion at Kingsholm.

Who will win Saturday's Heineken Cup quarter-final and why?

I'd have a sneaky suspicion that Munster might do it based on the form of the respective teams going into this match. Gloucester have lost quite a few games of late whereas Munster seem to be peaking just at the right time. Munster also have the experience of winning matches in this tournament where the pressure and intensity can suffocate lesser teams.

Gloucester are certainly capable of winning and have the players to do that but the enormous pressure might just get to one or two players.

Will victory in Saturday's game come down to key individuals?Gloucester possess great broken-field runners in James Simpson Daniel and Lesley Vainikolo and if given a bit of space can do serious damage to Munster ambitions. Simpson Daniel can be devastating from anywhere while, although Vainikolo mightn't have played well for England, he does for Gloucester.

I think Munster will target their opponents' lineout, particularly if Olivier Azam starts at hooker. The Frenchman has many qualities, particularly in the scrum, but his throwing has always been his Achilles heel.

LEO CULLEN

(LEINSTER)

What if anything makes Kingsholm a formidable venue for a visiting team?

During my time with Leicester I only managed to play once at Kingsholm and that was before the recent renovations. In those days the dressingrooms were tiny, cramped boxes but I believe the facilities are now excellent.

The Shed prides itself on its boisterous reputation but it doesn't really become a factor unless you let it as a player. The day I played we were leading by 10 points at half-time but still ended up losing despite playing well. They were and are, given their current crop of players, very dangerous on the counterattack.

Who will win Saturday's Heineken Cup quarter-final and why?Munster, mainly because of the experience they have in playing matches of this stature. Gloucester don't have that to draw on and I think it'll be a central issue. We played Gloucester in the Premiership final and they had been built up after walloping Saracens by 50 points in the semi-final. We had scraped through but hammered them in the decider.

Their recent form is not necessarily a bad thing as they won't suffer from overconfidence but Munster are a big-game team. You have to beat them as they'll never do it themselves.

Will victory in Saturday's game come down to key individuals?

If you were to analyse one head-to-head that will be significant, it would be the outhalves Ryan Lamb (Gloucester) and Ronan O'Gara (Munster). Lamb can be quite influential . . . for both teams. He can be very dangerous if allowed time and space but can at times be a liability to his own side, particularly temperament-wise.

O'Gara controls a game and if his pack are going well he could be pivotal in the outcome. Gloucester have some excellent backs and if their pack goes well . . . they do have the firepower.

SHANE JENNINGS (LEINSTER)

What if anything makes Kingsholm a formidable venue for a visiting team?

I only played there once with the Tigers and to be honest didn't find it that intimidating.

They're very much an old-school style of supporter in The Shed and pride themselves on getting there about two-and-a-half hours before kick-off; all squeezed in.

It's no different really from Thomond Park and there should be a wonderful atmosphere even with the new development.

I certainly enjoyed my experience there and I don't believe that any Munster player would be daunted by the venue.

Who will win Saturday's Heineken Cup quarter-final and why?Munster. I don't think Gloucester are quite the team they're made out to be. Munster have a genuinely harder edge up front.

Gloucester can be dangerous from broken play and if you don't give them that respect, it could be costly.

But, to be honest, I cannot see Munster underestimating their opponents. I'd expect them to be aggressive and really set about Gloucester physically.

Will victory in Saturday's game come down to key individuals?

It's probably more a case of Gloucester trying to match Munster in the tight five. They (Gloucester) have some powerful players and an athletic backrow but the set-piece play will be very important on the day and the home side will have to be good in this area.

Obviously Gloucester have some excellent backs in Ryan Lamb, Anthony Allen, James Simpson Daniel and Lesley Vainikolo but if you deny them space it doesn't matter how skilful they are.

Gloucester would consider themselves to have an edge in the backs, Munster in the pack. It's a battle of two talented sides who are capable of beating each other and that's what makes for a fascinating match.