There have been 25 different teams contesting Heineken Cup quarter-finals in the history of the tournament - there were no quarter-finals in the inaugural season - with reigning champions Toulouse and Munster each chasing remarkable eighth last eight appearances.
But while Toulouse have gone on to claim European club rugby's most coveted title a record three times from four final appearances, Munster - twice beaten finalists - are still searching for the ultimate honour.
Nine of this season's Heineken Cup teams - Sale Sharks, Saracens, Leeds Tykes, Bourgoin, Ospreys, Glasgow Warriors, Newport Gwent Dragons, Benetton Treviso and Rugby Calvisano - have never reached the last eight. But the Sharks are setting the pace in Pool 1 with 18 points as Jason Robinson's team and Pool 5 table-toppers Bath Rugby (19 points) are the only teams who can still boast four wins from four.
It means the Sharks certainly have their quarter-final destiny in their own hands as they bid to make the knock-out stages for the first time while Saracens are second in Pool 4 with 12 points and facing a massive game at leaders Biarritz Olympique in Round 6.
In the 36 quarter-final matches played so far, French clubs have claimed 28 of the 72 places; English sides 20; Welsh sides 12; Irish teams 11 and Scotland one.
THE HEINEKEN CUP QUARTER-FINALISTS - TEAM BY TEAM
7 - Toulouse, Munster
6 - Leicester Tigers, Llanelli Scarlets, Stade Français Paris
4 - Cardiff Blues, Biarritz Olympique
3 - Bath Rugby, London Wasps, Northampton Saints, Leinster
2 - NEC Harlequins, Brive, Pau, Perpignan, ASM Clermont Auvergne, Gloucester Rugby
1 - Dax, Ulster, Pontypridd, Colomiers, Swansea, Castres Olympique, Edinburgh Gunners, Newcastle Falcons
