Sale Sharks know they need to beat Pool leaders from France, Brive, in the clash billed as 'Le Crunch' between the two top sides in Pool 5 at Edgeley Park on Thursday evening.
The Premiership outfit, who won this tournament in 2002 and 2005, need a win and have to deny the Top 14 side a bonus point to qualify for the knockout stages of the competition.
Brive, who won the European Cup in 1997, only need to get a losing bonus point to top the Pool, while a win or a draw will guarantee their place in the last eight of the tournament.
The Sharks don't have a great record against an unbeaten Brive side, having played them three times and only managed one victory when the two sides met previously in Europe.
The French side are unbeaten in the Pool, having won all of their five previous games, but will take nothing for granted in this classic England versus France clash.
Agen v RC Vila
(Thursday January 19 KO 20.45)
Agen have nothing but pride to play for when they host Spanish champions RC Vila in their final game of Pool 5 at the Stade Alfred-Armandie.
The French side, who have announced that legendary French centre Philipe Sella will be their new Director of Rugby for next season, have won only one of their previous Pool games during this campaign.
The Spanish minnows, who are in their first season of European rugby, have found the Amlin Challenge Cup tough going and have failed to register a win or a single point in the Pool.
CR La Vila, who are based in Alicante, conceded 263 points in their previous five games in the Pool.