Harlequins and Connacht Rugby's seemingly never ending European rivalry - just for starters this is the third successive season they have been in the same group - will go on the back burner in December when Biarritz Olympique and Zebre come into the equation.
Harlequins' 30-22 win at Connacht provides them with a four-point cushion at the top of Pool 3 ahead of Biarritz, who were 38-17 home winners against Zebre.
Now the challenge for Connacht is to stay in touch with back-to-back Friday night contests with reigning Amlin Challenge Cup champions Biarritz - first at the Sportsground and then at Stade Aguilera.
"We have two tough games in December with Biarritz but we have to stay positive about it," said Director of Rugby Eric Elwood.
"We've learnt a hell of a lot from our journey in the Heineken Cup last year. This time we had a good start against Zebre and were unlucky in this game against Harlequins, especially not to get anything from the game.
"We have Biarritz home and away then Harlequins and Zebre and we are looking forward to all of it.
"Our effort was outstanding, we fought to the bitter end and it's just disappointing that we didn't get something for our hard work out of the game."
And Harlequins will go into their back-to-back fixtures against Zebre with the confidence of a job well done so far in having denied both Biarritz and now Connacht even a losing bonus point.
"We have nilled Connacht away, we've nilled Biarritz at home and we have Zebre to come but there is a lot more to come from this team," said Director of Rugby Conor O'Shea.
"We've learnt a lot and Ben Botica did well in a hostile environment, you learn more about a player away from home and he was very composed. Maybe we could have kicked more in the second-half but it is not in the DNA of the team.
"I have been coming here my whole life and you never get an easy ride."
