Six down, two to go - but still all to play for

Northampton Saints' 23-12 victory in Castres ensured they finished on top of Pool 1 with a perfect 'six out of six' record and 25 points. It is the first time since 2002 that an English club has ended the Pool stage with a 100% record.

But the real prize in becoming the first team to win at Castres Olympique's Stade Pierre Antoine ground this season was securing a precious home draw for the quarter-finals in April.

They joined the Pool 2 winners Leinster in guaranteeing themselves home advantage by being one of the top four ranked quarter-finalists and Toulouse, who have already won Pool 6, Perpignan and Leicester Tigers will be hoping to join them when they get into action on Sunday.

Reigning champions Toulouse, who have won their last 11 Heineken Cup games, are unbeaten in Pool 6 and head to High Wycombe to face London Wasps knowing that another win will see them claim either the first or second seeding and a home tie,

London Wasps are still chasing the chance of creeping into the last eight as one of the best two runners-up, but to do that they will have beat Toulouse and secure a bonus point. That would take them to 20 points and put them behind Pool 4 runners-up Ulster (22 points), but ahead of the second placed team in Pool 2, ASM Clermont Auvergne (19 points).

But there are still three teams in with a chance of making the grade on the last day of action in Pool 5. Pool leaders Perpignan hold the whip hand with 17 points and a home clash with the third-placed Scarlets to come on Sunday afternoon.

If they win they will definitely make the quarter-finals, and if they add a bonus point they will not only win the Pool, but also clinch a home tie. However, the Scarlets aren't out of the hunt for a possible Pool win or second place and Leicester Tigers host Benetton Treviso at Welford Road knowing that a win will guarantee them at least the runners-up spot, and a quarter-final slot, and that a bonus point triumph could also be good enough to earn them a home tie.

As ever with the Heineken Cup, so much goes down to the wire and there are still a few twists and turns to go before the complete quarter-final make-up is completed.

The six qualifiers to date are:

Pool Winners: Northampton Saints 25 points (Home Tie); Leinster 24 points (Home Tie); Biarritz Olympique 22 points; Toulouse 21 points (1 game to play); Toulon 17 points (Away Tie)

Runner Up: Ulster 22 points (Away Tie)