Goode tips Toulouse

However, international fly half Goode, a Heineken Cup final winner with the Tigers in 2001 and 2002 but on the losing side against London Wasps at Twickenham last May, believes Gloucester Rugby have the best chance of the Premiership trio still in contention of supplying a seventh English winner.

"The smart money will be on Toulouse but I hope an English side will do it and, of the three, Gloucester are probably the most well equipped team to do it," said Goode.

"But if you are a betting man it looks like Toulouse as they are playing some sparkling rugby at the moment."

Gloucester Rugby, London Irish and Saracens will be flying the quarter-final flag for England; Toulouse and Perpignan and Cardiff Blues and Ospreys carry French and Welsh hopes respectively with Munster through to the knock-out stages for a record 10th successive tournament.

"I would like to think an English team can hold onto the title and looking at their group stage performances all three did exceptionally well to dominate their Pools and qualify with home quarter-finals - which is a massive bonus.

"London Irish and Saracens have not been in the quarter-finals before and I am sure they will get themselves ready for huge performances."

Meanwhile Goode believes that with so many Ospreys players in Wales' Grand Slam squad and Munster boasting unrivalled tournament knock-out experience makes both real dangers.

"Toulouse are the big threat - as we found out in the group stages - and they are playing some great rugby but the Ospreys are a good side and what Wales achieved should spur them on to do great things for their club as well.

"Just look at the Welsh team who won at Twickenham - pretty much all Ospreys bar one or two - and they will take a lot of confidence out with them from their performances in the Welsh jersey.

"As for Munster, just look at the way they beat London Wasps in their group game at Thomond Park and they will take all their big game experience with them to Gloucester

"Munster have won tournaments before and played in heavens knows how many quarter-finals and semi-finals and Gloucester do not have that Heineken Cup experience.

"But the quarter-final is at Kinsgholm in front of The Shed and, although they have suffered a bit of a dip in form, they will hope they can pull out a big performance against Munster."

Goode, whose 406 points in 46 Heineken Cup appearances make him the seventh highest scorer in the tournament, believes that at this stage of the tournament preparation is everything.

"It is all about getting the mentality right for a massive game," he said. "You have to raise the intensity during the final week and stay completely focused.

"The buzz you need to create around the camp is different to a normal league game. It has to start on the Monday and build up and work through the week to match day."