Something will have to give in London this weekend when two of Europe's top sides clash in the first of two mouthwatering matches between the leaders of the Top 14 and the English Premiership.
Four times Heineken Cup winners Toulouse warmed-up for their Pool 6 trip to the Twickenham Stoop on Friday night by hammering Toulon 33-12 at home. That win made it nine out of 12, with a draw, to give them a three point lead at the top of the table.
Harlequins, meanwhile, made it 14 straight wins in all competitions this season with an impressive 10th Premiership triumph, 22-16, over London Wasps at Adams Park.
The two teams are locked on eight points each after winning their opening two rounds of Pool matches in Europe. The Quins won the Amlin Challenge Cup last season, beating Munster and Stade Francais Paris away from home in their last two outings, and will be looking to make it 11 straight wins in the two European tournaments by bagging their first win over the French giants.
Quins skipper Chris Robshaw had a hand in all three of his side's tries against Wasps and is hoping to revert back to his customary position on the side of the scrum later in the week having covered at No 8 for the injured Nick Easter. Quins director of rugby Conor O'Shea is hopeful his English international No 8 Easter will be fit to resume when the Heineken Cup returns for Round 3 this week.
Robshaw, for one, has no doubts about the task facing his side over the next two weeks as they try to keep their unbeaten run going. "Toulouse are the big guns and it's a big test for us," he said. No wonder the game is already a sell-out on Friday night.
TOP 14 P W D L F A B Pts
1. Toulouse 12 9 1 2 283 178 5 43
2. Clermont 12 9 0 3 304 163 4 40
3. Castres 12 7 1 3 253 225 3 33
PREMIERSHIP P W D L F A B Pts
1. Harlequins 10 10 0 0 295 167 3 43
2. Saracens 10 8 0 2 218 163 2 34
3. Exeter 10 5 0 5 195 202 5 25
