A look at the weekend's matches
POOL FOUR
Leicester Tigers v ASM Clermont Auvergne Welford Road, 1.30pm
Live on Sky Sports 1
THE Tigers need a two-try win by more than seven points to emerge with a better head-to-head. They are unbeaten in 17 Euro home games, whereas Clermont have lost eight of their last 10 and have won only seven of 24 on the road.
Thomas Waldrom and Boris Stankovich return, the latter replacing Marcus Ayerza (wrist). Clermont make seven changes, four in the tight five, while Aurelien Rougerie is ruled out and the ponderous David Skrela replaces Brock James.
LEICESTER TIGERS: G Murphy (capt); H Agulla, M Smith, M Tuilagi, A Tuilagi; T Flood, B Youngs; B Stankovich, G Chuter, M Castrogiovanni, L Deacon, G Skivington, T Croft, J Salvi, T Waldrom. Replacements: R Hawkins, J White, D Cole, S Mafi, B Woods, S Harrison, B Twelvetrees, S Hamilton.
ASM CLERMONT AUVERGNE: L Byrne; S Sivivatu, R King, W Fofana, J Malzieu; D Skrela, M Parra; L Faure, T Paulo, C Ric, J Cudmore, J White, G Vosloo, A Lapandry, J Bonnaire (capt). Replacements: B Kayser, V Debaty, D Kotze, N Hines, E Vermeulen, K Senio, B James, G Williams.
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales).
Betting (all Paddy Powers): 4/9 Leicester, 20/1 Draw, 17/10 Clermont. Handicap odds (Clermont +5pts) 10/11 Leicester, 25/1 Draw, 10/11 Clermont.
Forecast: Leicester to win and cover handicap.
POOL ONE
Northampton Saints v Castres Olympique
Franklin's Gardens, 3pm
THE Saints might well be three wins from three, rather than three defeats, but for Ronan O'Gara's drop goal in round one and their ensuing reaction (which perhaps tells us much about them).
Jim Mallinder has made all the right noises about qualifying for the Amlin in making four changes, whereas Castres (fourth in the Top 14) have omitted key men such as Chris Masoe in making 13 changes before Friday's game at Bayonne.
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS: B Foden; V Artemyev, J Clarke, J Downey, J Elliott; S Myler, M Roberts; A Waller, D Hartley (capt), P Doran-Jones, C Lawes, M Sorenson, T Wood, B Nutley, S Manoa. Replacements: M Haywood, S Tongauiha, T Mercey, J Craig, J Ingle, L Dickson, G Tonks, S Armstrong
CASTRES OLYMPIQUE: F Denos; M Nicolas, P Bonnefond, P Garcia, P Lakafia; P Bernard, T Lacrampe; A Peikrishvili, M Bonello, R Kruger, M Rolland (capt), S Murray, P Roussel, S Malonga, J Bornman. Replacements: M Rallier, M Coetzee, L Ducalcon, R Capo Ortega, Y Caballero, R Kockott, S Bai, V Inigo.
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Betting: 1/5 Northampton, 25/1 Draw, 10/3 Castres. Handicap odds (Castres +10pts) 10/11 Northampton, 20/1 Draw, 10/11 Castres.
Forecast: Northampton to win.
POOL THREE
Montpellier v Glasgow Warriors
Stade Yves du Manoir, 3.40pm (Irish-time)
Live on Sky Sports Red Button
JOE Schmidt's fear that Leinster may have missed a trick in drawing their opener in Montpellier appears to have been realised.
Only left winger Yoan Audrin and number eight Masi Matadigo are retained from round one, while all their frontline World Cup internationals are again rested prior to hosting Toulouse next Friday in a reprise of last season's Top 14 final. The return of outhalf Ruaridh Jackson is one of five Glasgow changes.
MONTPELLIER: J Peyras Loustalet; P Bérard, P Bosch, T Combezou, Y Audrin; I Perraux, E Escande; G Shvelidze, M Ladhuie, K Kervarec, J Tuineau, D Hancke, V Bost, R Martin (capt), M Matadigo. Replacements: J Caudullo, M Nariashvili, M Bustos, M Gorgodze, K Galletier, B Paillaugue, F Trinh-Duc, G Doumayrou.
GLASGOW WARRIORS: S Hogg; F Aramburu, P Murchie, T Nathan, R Lamont; R Jackson, C Cusiter; R Grant, P MacArthur, M Cusack, R Gray, A Kellock (capt), J Barclay, C Fusaro, J Beattie. Replacements: D Hall, J Welsh, M Low, T Ryder, H Pyrgos, R Wilson, R Dewey, D Weir.
Referee: Andrew Small (England).
Betting: 1/3 Montpellier, 20/1 Draw, 9/4 Warriors. Handicap odds (Glasgow +7pts) 10/11 Montpellier, 20/1 Draw, 10/11 Warriors.
Forecast: Warriors to win.
POOL TWO
London Irish v Racing Metro 92
Madejski Stadium, 3pm
ANOTHER bonus-point win over the half-hearted Parisians could keep London Irish in the hunt for a knockout spot.
Whereas Tony Booth makes three changes, Pierre Berbizier makes eight, including the back five in his pack (with the rusty Sebastien Chabal in need of game time) and both half-backs, perhaps with one eye on next Friday's home French Top 14 game against Agen.
That said, Nicolas Durand and Jonathan Wisniewski give them a more solid look at half-back.
LONDON IRISH: D Armitage; T Homer, J Ansbro, J Spratt, A Thompstone; A Jarvis, D Allinson; C Dermody (capt), D Paice, P Ion, B Evans, M Garvey, D Danaher, J Gibson, O Treviranus. Replacements: B Blaney, M Lahiff, F Rautenbach, B Casey, R Thorpe, T Ojo, S Hape, P Hodgson.
RACING METRO 92: G Germain; J Saubade, V Vakatawa, J Matavesi, S Bobo; J Wisniewski, N Durand (capt); J Brugnaut, T Bianchin, J Orlandi, S Dellape, F van der Merwe, R Vaquiin, A Galindo, S Chabal. Replacements: B Noirot, M Tuugahala, J Coetzee, J Nailiko, S Descons, J Hernandez, B Le Roux, K Ghezal.
Referee: John Lacey (Ireland).
Betting: 2/9 London Irish, 22/1 Draw, 3/1 Racing. Handicap odds (Racing +8pts) 10/11 London Irish, 22/1 Draw, 3/1 Racing.
Forecast: London Irish to win and cover handicap.
Pool Six
POOL SIX
Toulouse v Harlequins
Le Stadium, 3pm (irish-time)
Live on Sky Sports 2
With the pool Toulouse's for the taking, the Euro grandees must be strongly fancied.
TOULOUSE: M Medard; V Clerc, Y David , Y Jauzion, T Matanavou; L McAlister, J Doussain; Y Montes, W Servat, C Johnston, R Millo-Chluski, Y Maestri, J Bouilhou, T Dusautoir (capt), S Sowerby. Replacements: G Botha, D Human, J Poux, G Lamboley, L Burgess, F Fritz, Y Nyanga, L Picamoles.
HARLEQUINS: M Brown; S Stegmann, M Hopper, T Casson, U Monye; N Evans, D Care; M Lambert, J Gray, J Johnston, T Vallejos, G Robson, C Robshaw (capt), W Skinner, N Easter. Replacements: C Brooker, N Mayhew, K Sinckler, C Matthews, L Wallace, R Bolt, B Urdapilleta, T Williams.
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland).
Betting: 1/10 Toulouse, 25/1 Draw, 11/2 Harlequins. Handicap odds (Harlequins +12pts) 10/11 Toulouse, 25/1 Draw, 10/11 10/11 Harlequins.
Forecast: Toulouse to win.
