Compiled by JOHN O'SULLIVAN

SATURDAY

POOL ONE

Castres v Northampton Saints,

Stade Pierre Antoine (1.30)

A CLASH between two clubs pondering on how they have contrived to lose two matches apiece respectively in the tournament to date. The Saints had their pockets picked at Thomond Park while Munster pilfered the points from Castres in Toulouse’s Stade Ernest Wallon.

The loser of this match can start focusing on domestic fixtures.

Saints are without Irish duo Roger Wilson (knee) and James Downey, the latter appearing to have fallen behind Tom May in the pecking order. Castres have picked a strong side and will be keen to guarantee a hostile reception at the intimate and noisy Stade Pierre Antoine.

The English club are more accomplished behind the scrum but will have to show the stomach for a pitched battle up front.

CASTRES OLYMPIQUE:R Teulet; R Martial, T Sanchou, S Bai, M Evans; R Tales, R Kockott; M Coetzee, M Rallier, L Ducalcon; S Murray, R Capo Ortega; I Diarra, S Malonga, C Masoe (capt). Replacements: M Bonello, A Peikrishvili, R Kruger, M Rolland, Y Caballero, P Bonnefond, P Bernard, T Lacrampe.

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS:B Foden; V Artemyev, G Pisi, T May, J Elliott; S Myler, L Dickson; S Tonga'uiha, D Hartley (capt), P Doran-Jones; C Lawes, M Sorenson; T Wood, B Nutley, S Manoa. Replacements: M Haywood, A Waller, B Mujati, J Craig, J Ingle, M Roberts, R Lamb, J Clarke.

Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)

POOL FIVE

Saracens v Ospreys

Wembley Stadium (6.0, live on Sky Sports)

THE ENGLISH club will be hoping to have more success at the home of English soccer than they did the last time they pitched up to Wembley when losing to Leinster last season.

In mentioning the Irish province it should be noted that Saracens have just signed former Leinster Academy prospect, flanker Eoin Sheriff.

He doesn’t make the match squad but another Irishman, Peter Stringer, does after his switch from Munster. Hooker Schalk Brits is available after suspension and this has allowed coach Mark McCall to rest Springbok captain John Smit. Charlie Hodgson returns at outhalf with Owen Farrell switching to centre. Tommy Bowe is on the right wing for an Ospreys side that boasts a strong bench.

SARACENS:A Goode; D Strettle, O Farrell, B Barritt, C Wyles; C Hodgson, B Spencer; R Gill, S Brits, M Stevens; S Borthwick (capt), M Botha; K Brown, J Burger, E Joubert. Replacements: J George, D Carstens, C Nieto, G Kruis, A Saull, P Stringer, A Powell, J Short.

OSPREYS: R Fussell; T Bowe, A Bishop, A Beck, S Williams; D Biggar, R Webb; D Jones, R Hibbard, A Jones; R Jones, J Thomas; T Smith (capt), J Tipuric, J Bearman. Replacements: H Bennett, R Bevington, A Jarvis, I Gough, G Stowers, T Isaacs, M Morgan, S Parker.

Referee:Pascal Gauzere (France)

POOL FIVE

Benetton Treviso v Biarritz Olympique

Stadio Comunale di Monigo (1.30)

THE ITALIAN club have proved tricky opponents at home down through the years and since they’ve joined the Pro12 League have been even more consistent in terms of performance at the Stadio Comunale di Monigo. Their most recent major European scalp was Perpignan two seasons ago at today’s venue.

Biarritz have been struggling horribly in the French Top 14 and are without internationals Imanol Harinordoquy and Dimitri Yachvili, both of whom will be missed as much for leadership as their physical attributes. The key for the visitors will be achieving a platform up front because they certainly have oodles of pace to stretch Treviso.

This one could be very close.

BENETTON TREVISO:L McLean; L Nitoglia, T Benvenuti, A Sgarbi, B Williams; K Burton, T Botes; M Rizzo, E Ceccato, L Cittadini; A Pavanello (capt), C van Zyl; R Barbieri, A Zanni, P Derbyshire. Replacements: D Vidal, I Fernandez Rouyet, P di Santo, V Bernabo, M Vosawai, M Filippucci, E Gori, A Di Bernardo.

BIARRITZ OLYMPIQUE: I Balshaw; T Ngwenya, B Baby, D Traille (capt), I Bolakoro; M Bosch, Y Lesgourgues; F Barcella, B August, C Johnstone; J Thion, P Taele; W Lauret, T Gray, F Faure. Replacements: R Terrain, Y Watremez, S Marconnet, J Roidot, B Guyot, J Peyrelongue, C Gimenez, D Haylett-Petty.

Referee:JP Doyle (England)

POOL TWO

Racing Metro 92 v London Irish

Stade Yves du Manoir (3.40)

THE FRENCH side were victims of what might be described as one of the greatest comebacks of all time or a shocking example of crass carelessness in losing 48-47 to Edinburgh at Murrayfield in their last European match. Racing led by 24 points at one stage only to lose in the end. London Irish will have some empathy as they were undone at the death by the Scots in the opening round of fixtures (20-19).

Irish have Delon Armitage back after suspension and amongst the replacements are former Leinster hooker Brian Blaney and a fit again Bob Casey. The latter will play his first competitive senior game after twice tearing a bicep. The Exiles have played some decent rugby but not converted scoring chances, something they will need to address or face a third consecutive defeat in the competition.

RACING METRO 92:G Germain; S Bobo, V Vakatawa, J Matavesi, J Imhoff; J Hernandez, M Loree; J Brugnaut, T Bianchin, J Orlandi; L Nallet (capt), J Nailiko; A Batut, B Le Roux, J Cronje. Replacements: G Arganese, E Ben Arous, J Coetzee, F van der Merwe, S Descons, J Wisniewski, J Leo'o, S Chabal.

LONDON IRISH:D Armitage; T Ojo, J Ansbro, J Spratt, A Thompstone; D Bowden, D Allinson; C Dermody (capt), D Paice, P Ion; B Evans, M Garvey: D Danaher, O Treviranus, C Hala'ufia. Replacements: B Blaney, M Lahiff, F Rautenbach, B Casey, J Gibson, T Homer, A Jarvis, P Hodgson.

Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)

SUNDAY

POOL THREE

Glasgow Warriors v Montpellier

Firhill (12.45)

THE SCOTTISH side were fortuitous in securing a last-gasp victory over Bath in the opening round before being well and truly spanked by Leinster at the RDS. Montpellier had reason to be aggrieved after succumbing to a last-second penalty that gave the Irish province a draw before losing narrowly (16-13) at the Rec. Today’s visitors might have briefly considered that a victory would put them right back in the mix for pool honours.

It seems to have been a fleeting thought as that supposition isn’t reflected in the team selection as there is no Georgian behemoth Mamuka Gorgodze, French internationals Francois Trinh Duc, Fulgence Quedraogo, Thibaut Privat and Argentine hooker Agustin Creevy – that suggests a home victory.

GLASGOW WARRIORS: S Hogg; F Aramburu, P Murchie, G Morrison, R Lamont; D Weir, C Cusiter; J Welsh, P MacArthur, M Cusack; R Gray, A Kellock (capt); R Harley, J Barclay, R Wilson. Replacements: D Hall, R Grant, E Kalman, T Ryder, C Fusaro, H Pyrgos, T Nathan, R Jackson.

MONTPELLIER: J Peyras Loustalet; P Bérard, P Bosch, T Combezou, M Bustos Moyano; S Fernandez, E Escande; G Shvelidze, M Ladhuie, G Jgenti; J Tuineau, D Hancke; V Bost, R Martin (capt), A Tulou. Replacements: J Caudullo, M Nariashvili, K Kervarec, M Matadigo, K Galletier, B Paillaugue, L Amorosino, I Perraux.

Referee:Greg Garner (England)

POOL FOUR

Clermont Auvergne v Leicester Tigers

Stade Marcel Michelin (3.0, live Sky Sports)

IT IS arguably the match of the weekend over which Ireland’s Alain Rolland will preside. New Zealand try-scoring machine Sitiveni Sivivatu makes his European debut for the home side in a backline of breathtaking quality in attacking terms. Manu Tuilagi returns following injury for a Tigers team that will be led by Geordan Murphy.

Leicester have been able to confirm their strongest match squad so far this season but it still seems inferior to that of their hosts.

Any team that can leave Ti Paulo, Jamie Cudmore, Elvis Vermeulen and David Skrela on the bench isn’t lacking in the talent stakes.

The English club will be energised by the challenge but that might not be enough if Clermont get enough possession.

CLERMONT AUVERGNE: L Byrne; S Sivivatu, A Rougerie (capt), W Fofana, J Malzieu; B James, M Parra; L Faure, B Kayser, D Zirakashvili; J Pierre, N Hines; G Vosloo, A Lapandry, J Bonnaire. Replacements: T Paulo, V Debaty, C Ric, J Cudmore, E Vermeulen, K Senio, D Skrela, R King.

LEICESTER TIGERS:G Murphy (capt); H Agulla, M Smith, M Tuilagi, A Tuilagi; T Flood, B Youngs; M Ayerza, G Chuter, M Castrogiovanni; L Deacon, G Skivington; T Croft, J Salvi, T Waldrom. Replacements: R Hawkins, B Stankovich, D Cole, E Slater, S Mafi, S Harrison, B Twelvetrees, S Hamilton.

Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)