For the first time the Amlin Challenge Cup and the Heineken Cup Finals are being played in the same city on the same weekend.

Neither Harlequins or Stade qualified for next season's Heineken Cup through their respective domestic leagues so this is their final opportunity for a place in the compeititon.

It is quite remarkable that a club with the history of Stade Francais are still in search of their first European title.

In their previous two seasons in the Amlin Challenge Cup, the French side have made it through to the knock-out stages on each occasion but this is there first Amlin final.

They made it through the Pool stage this season unbeaten and brushed aside compatriots Montpellier and Clermont Auvergne in the quarter and semi-finals respectively.

There are some exciting match-ups on display at the Cardiff City Stadium with Sergio Parisse lining up against England number eight Nick Evans. English duo Tom Palmer and James Haskell have also both been included in Stade's side.

Harlequins are looking for a third Amlin title after previous success in the tournament in 2001 and 2004.

They began their campaign this year with defeat away to Bayonne but fought back to control Pool 1 and then beat former European Champions London Wasps and Munster on route to the Final.