The Best Are Involved - Gatland

London Wasps coach Warren Gatland talked up the other Heineken Cup quarter-finalists at the draw for 'home' advantage in the semi-finals, but must have secretly been hoping for an easier passage in the knock-out stages.

Should Wasps beat Gloucester in the next round, they will have to travel to either Ireland or France to face the winners of the Munster v Stade Francais match-up.

"The prospect of playing either Munster or Stade Francais is pretty exciting for us. We had a good win in Paris last year and a potential trip to Lansdowne Road is, for me, very pleasant.'

"What is really exciting about the knock-out stage of the Heineken Cup is that we have got the best teams for all countries involved," he said.

"We are the English champions, Toulouse are the Heineken Cup holders, Stade Francais are the French champions and Edinburgh, Munster and Llanelli Scarlets are the top teams from their nations.

The English champions were touted as tournaments favorites after their crowning, and victory in the Parker Pen Challenge Cup, but have found life at the top table tricky, and needed a big win in week 6 to secure their quarter-final berth.

"It was always a goal for us to qualify for the quarter-finals now we will take just one step at a time. The fact the final is at Twickenham will be a bit of an added incentive to the players," Gatland told ercrugby.com.

"I am delighted we have continued where we left off last season - we just couldn't stop winning at the end of last season. We were on a roller-coaster and we ended up winning the English Premiership and Parker Pen Challenge Cup.

"In that respect we ended up a bit ahead of ourselves and as far as this season is concerned we have not been brilliant at home and have been better on the road.

"Last weekend's win in Perpignan was a real performance of character and showed what this side is capable of. It was the most pumped up and emotional I have ever seen my players."