All to play for in knockout weekend

HOW THEY STAND

Since the format of the two best runners-up qualifying for the quarter-finals as the No 7 and No 8 ranked teams has been in operation since the 1999 / 2000 season and bonus points coming into the equation in season 2003 / 2004, here are some quarter-final qualification pointers:
• No team has qualified as Pool winners on less than four wins.
• No team has qualified as one of the best runners-up on less than four wins.
• Since bonus points were introduced no team has qualified as a Pool winner on less than 18 points (Stade Français Paris in 2003 / 2004).
• Since bonus points were introduced no team has qualified as one of the best runners-up on less than 19 points (Leicester Tigers in 2004 / 2005)

POOL 1

A bonus-point win at Benetton Treviso will guarantee London Irish victory in the Pool, although simply a win will see them through to the quarter-finals as one of the two best-placed runners-up. Likewise with Perpignan, who need a win at Newport Gwent Dragons to put themselves in the frame for a best runners-up spot. If Perpignan record a bonus-point win, and London Irish don't, Perpignan will top the Pool because of a better try scoring record in the two matches between them. The Dragons and Treviso cannot qualify.

Current match points and tries scored:
London Irish - 19 points / 21 tries
Perpignan - 18 points / 17 tries
Newport Gwent Dragons - 8 points / 16 tries
Benetton Treviso - 5 points / 7 tries

Maximum points and wins attainable:
London Irish - 24 points / 5 wins
Perpignan - 23 points / 5 wins
Newport Gwent Dragons - 13 points / 2 wins
Benetton Treviso - 10 points / 2 wins

POOL 2

Gloucester will win the Pool if they beat Ulster Rugby, while the Ospreys need a win at Bourgoin to secure one of the best runners-up spots, or even qualification as Pool winners if Gloucester slip up. Bourgoin and Ulster cannot qualify.

Current match points and tries scored:
Gloucester Rugby - 19 points / 19 tries
Ospreys - 17 points / 13 tries
Bourgoin - 7 points / 10 tries
Ulster Rugby - 5 points / 10 tries

Maximum points and wins attainable:
Gloucester Rugby - 24 points / 5 wins
Ospreys - 22 points / 5 wins
Bourgoin - 12 points / 2 wins
Ulster Rugby - 10 points / 2 wins

POOL 3

If Cardiff Blues draw or collect two bonus points in a defeat at Bristol, they're through as Pool winners. But if they lose, and Stade Français Paris manage a bonus point win at Harlequins, they will top the group. There is a chance all three teams could finish on 17 points. If that happens, the Pool winner will be the side who have earned the most match points in games between the three teams. Stade cannot improve on their eight match points as they have played their relevant fixtures while the Blues have 10 and Bristol four, meaning the Blues would go through. Harlequins cannot qualify.

Current match points and tries scored:
Cardiff Blues - 16 points / 10 tries
Stade Français Paris - 13 points / 8 tries
Bristol Rugby - 12 points / 10 tries
Harlequins - 2 points / 6 tries

Maximum points and wins attainable:
Cardiff Blues - 21 points / 4 wins (and a draw)
Stade Français Paris - 18 points / 4 wins
Bristol Rugby - 17 / 4 wins
Harlequins - 7 points / 1 win (and a draw)

POOL 4

Saracens are in the box-seat with 20 points, but Glasgow Warriors can pip them at the post if they beat the Men in Black at Firhill, secure a bonus point, and prevent Saracens from getting a bonus point. Biarritz Olympique can move to 18 points with a bonus-point win at home to Viadana, but they will need other results to go their way to be in contention as one of the two best runners-up. Viadana cannot qualify.

Current match points and tries scored:
Saracens - 20 points / 25 tries
Glasgow Warriors - 15 points / 11 tries
Biarritz Olympique - 13 points / 5 tries
Viadana - 3 points / 12 tries

Maximum points and wins attainable:
Saracens - 25 points / 5 wins
Glasgow Warriors - 20 points / 4 wins
Biarritz Olympique - 18 points / 4 wins
Viadana - 8 points / 1 win

POOL 5

Munster will go top with a bonus-point victory over London Wasps, but the defending champions come right into contention if they get anything from their trip to Thomond Park. ASM Clermont Auvergne can reach 19 points, but will have to hope results in other Pools go their way so they can be in the mix as a runner-up. There is also the possibility of all three finishing on 19 points with match points from all matches between the three deciding the outcome. Clermont have completed their relevant fixtures and cannot advance on nine points while Munster would go to 11 and Wasps nine with Munster going through. Llanelli Scarlets cannot qualify.

Current match points and tries scored:
London Wasps - 18 points / 19 tries
Munster - 15 points / 12 tries
ASM Clermont Auvergne - 14 points / 16 tries
Llanelli Scarlets - 0 points / 8 tries

Maximum points and wins attainable:
London Wasps - 23 points / 5 wins
Munster - 20 points / 4 wins
ASM Clermont Auvergne - 19 points / 4 wins
Llanelli Scarlets - 5 points / 1 win

POOL 6

Toulouse have the fate of the Pool in their hands. A win over Edinburgh and they're through. A loss, and they give Leinster a chance to win the Pool if they can beat Leicester Tigers at Welford Road. If both sides finish on 17 points (Toulouse drawing the match or losing with two bonus points and Leinster a bonus point win), Toulouse will go through. Leicester Tigers and Edinburgh cannot qualify.

Current match points and tries scored:
Toulouse - 15 points / 8 tries
Leinster - 12 points / 7 tries
Leicester Tigers - 10 points / 7 tries
Edinburgh - 9 points / 7 tries

Maximum points and wins attainable:
Toulouse - 20 points / 4 wins
Leinster - 17 points / 4 wins
Leicester Tigers - 15 points / 3 wins
Edinburgh - 14 points / 3 wins

QUARTER-FINAL QUALIFICATION

All eight places in the 13th Heineken Cup quarter-finals will be decided after Round 6 this weekend (18 / 19 / 20 January).
The six Pool winners will be ranked 1-6 with the best two runners-up going through as the 7 and 8 ranked teams (see below).

HOW THEY QUALIFY FOR THE QUARTER-FINALS

POOL MATCHES
Four points for a win, two points for a draw (match points). A bonus point will be earned by a team scoring four or more tries and by a team losing by seven or less points. The six Pool winners and two best placed runners-up will qualify for the quarter-finals and will be decided by the following criteria:
(i) the Pool winner will be the Club with the highest number of match points earned in each Pool. The runners-up will be the two second placed Clubs from all six Pools with the next highest number of points. For the quarter-final round, the Pool winners will be ranked 1 - 6 in terms of the number of points earned. The runners-up will be ranked 7 and 8.

CLUBS IN THE SAME POOL
(ii) if two or more Clubs are equal on points and the Clubs are in the same Pool, then qualification / ranking will be based on the matches played between the Clubs concerned:
(a) the Club which has earned the most number of match points from the matches
(b) the Club which has scored the most tries in the matches
(c) the Club with the best aggregate points difference from the matches

CLUBS FROM DIFFERENT POOLS
(iii) if still unresolved, or the teams have not played each other previously in the Pool stage, qualification / ranking will be based on:
(a) the number of tries scored in all Pool matches
(b) aggregate points difference from all Pool matches
(c) the Club with the fewest number of players sent off and / or suspended in all Pool
matches
(d) toss of a coin