Rugby Union: EUROPEAN CUP QUARTER-FINALS

Bath v Cardiff

(Today, kick-off 2.15)

Last year Bath were a club in turmoil on and off the pitch. They travelled to Cardiff Arms Park and were beaten at the same stage of the European competition. This year Bath are on their home turf and are beginning to fire. Cardiff know they will have their work cut out, especially to keep out the home side's speedy back division.

"I firmly believe we can win at the Recreation Ground," Jonathan Humphreys, the Cardiff captain, said. "We are certainly up for it." Jon Callard highlights Cardiff's major asset, the scrum-half Rob Howley, as the key to the Welsh club's hopes. "Rob is the best scrum-half in the world. And Cardiff are a powerful and formidable unit up front, but we came through what I thought was the strongest Heineken Cup group by far, and we came out on top ahead of Brive and Pontypridd."

Pau v Leicester

(Tomorrow, kick-off 2.20)

Dean Richards is poised to start his first European match this season. The former England captain is on stand-by in case of problems with new signing Fritz Van Heerden. The South African lock has run into snags over work permit and registration. Leicester are looking like getting back on the rails though. They have beaten Toulouse in France this campaign and in last year's competition the Tigers beat Pau 19-14 away. The Leicester coach, Bob Dwyer, said: "It's our fault we've got to travel to France, we blew home advantage by losing at Welford Road to Toulouse. We dealt with Toulouse on their own patch in September well enough, and we are running into something like our proper form."

Toulouse v Harlequins

(Today, kick-off 2.30)

Carling keeps his place at centre in a near full-strength Harlequins side to take on the winners of the inaugural competition two years ago, but the prop Massimo Cuttitta is on international duty in Bologna where Italy take on South Africa. Andy Keast, Quins' director of rugby, said: "This is one of the hardest of the quarter-final ties. They have a strong, very explosive front five.

"But if we can contain them, then I think we have the strike power outside to beat them." Quins' cause will be helped with the news that Emile Ntamack is rated as only 50-50 to play. Quins' French stand-off Thierry Lacroix adds: "Toulouse haven't won four French championships in a row for nothing, but we have won at Bourgoin and Cardiff in the Cup and if can rediscover that spirit, then we can cause an upset."

Wasps v Brive

(Tomorrow, kick-off 2.15)

Three League defeats on the trot have not helped, but Wasps' England stand-off Alex King is fit following surgery on a knee, enabling Gareth Rees to remain at full-back. Canada's captain prefers to see King in the side. "Alex has the ability to break defences," Rees said. "If he is fit, he will make a big difference, he is such a positive player." But Rees has no illusions about facing the Heineken Cup holders. "Brive play at pace and are great creators. The scrum-half Philippe Carbonneau is a key player. He really seems to be the spark."

All times GMT