Harlequins, the reigning English champions, are still unbeaten at the top of Pool 3 and already look set to be a sound bet to qualify for their first Heineken Cup quarter-final place since 1998.
The aristocrats of English rugby recorded an emphatic 57-14 victory, crossing for eight tries, in the first leg of their Pool double-header over Italian new boys Zebre in Parma.
The Quins did a professional job against Italian rugby's new franchise and will want to produce a similar efficient performance when they host them on their home patch in London.
Wing Sam Smith crossed for two of Quins' eight tries but it was the visitors pack, which won two penalty tries at the scrum against the Italians, which laid the foundation for this win.
The English side are now six points ahead in the Pool after Irish province Connacht Rugby produced one of the shocks of the weekend when they beat former finalists, Biarritz Olympique, in Galway.
Connacht produced one of their "Sportsground Specials" to earn a 22-14 victory over the Basques and record another famous Heineken Cup victory in front of a raucous home crowd.
Wing Fetu'u Vainikolo made the difference and scored the vital try in Connacht's win over Biarritz and the Irish side now face the daunting trip to face the French club at Parc des Sports Aguilera.
The French side know their qualification hopes are hanging by a thread and they need a win over their Irish visitors, while Zebre are still looking for their first victory in the Heineken Cup when they travel to face Quins.
