English sides are set to dominate the European Challenge Cup quarter-final line-up © Getty Images

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Tournaments/Tours: European Challenge Cup | European Challenge Cup

Teams: England | France | Ireland | Italy

This weekend sees the final round of pool matches in the European Challenge Cup with the quarter-final line-up set to be confirmed the competition.

The permutations have left us scratching our heads on the eve of what is sure to be a nail-biting weekend of action across Europe.

Here's what we know:

London Irish, Northampton, Worcester and Saracens have qualified for the Challenge Cup quarter-finals. The final round of pool matches will see the final three places and the quarter-final rankings confirmed. The best four records amongst the pool winners will also gain home advantage in the quarter-finals with the other pool winner and the best three runners-up also progressing.

Pool 1:

London Irish sit atop Pool 1 with a 100% record and are assured of a home quarter-final ahead of their final pool clash away to Rovigo. Second placed Connacht still have a chance to bag one of the runner-up places but require a win at home to Dax.

Pool 2:

Northampton are also already in the last eight and play host to Toulon intent on securing home advantage in the quarter-finals. Bristol still have a chance of progressing but require a win at home to Montpellier and other results to go their way.

Pool 3:

Worcester's victory last weekend sealed their quarter-final passage and a home tie will be on their mind against Petraca Padova, who will be eyeing one of the runner-up places. Bourgoin also have a chance of claiming second spot but need a big win against Bucuresti and fortune to smile on them elsewhere.

Pool 4:

The top spot in Pool 4 is still up for grabs with Brive leading the chase. Victory for them against second-placed Parma will see them progress but victory for the Italians will see them claim top spot. Third-placed Newcastle need a win against Cetransa El Salvador and for Brive to claim victory to keep their European campaign alive.

Pool 5:

Saracens have dominated proceedings in Pool 5 and as a result are assured of a place in the last eight. They will be keen to secure a home tie in the knock-out stages when they travel to Mont de Marsan. Viadana have a small chance of earning one of the runner-up places but need a big win at home to Bayonne.

Click here for the latest standings

European Challenge Cup 2008-09 - Round 6: (All kick-offs LOCAL times)

Thursday, January 22, 2009
Pool 4 Brive v Overmach Parma 20.45 Rob Debney (E) France 4

Friday, January 23, 2009
Pool 1 Connacht Rugby v Dax 18.30 Neil Paterson (S)
Pool 3 Bourgoin v Bucuresti Oaks 20.30 Paolo Ventura (It)
Pool 5 Mont de Marsan v Saracens 19.00 John Lacey (I) Eurosport France / Sky Sports

Saturday, January 24, 2009
Pool 1 Rugby Rovigo v London Irish 15.00 Joel Jutge (F)
Pool 2 Northampton Saints v Toulon 15.00 Tim Hayes (W)
Pool 3 Worcester Warriors v Petrarca Rugby 15.00 Pascal Gauzere (F)
Pool 5 Viadana v Bayonne 19.00 John Paul Doyle (E)

Sunday, Janaury 25, 2009
Pool 2 Bristol Rugby v Montpellier 15.00 Alan Falzone (It)
Pool 4 El Salvador v Newcastle Falcons 12.00 David Rosich (F)

Quarter-final qualification:

The following teams have qualified the the quarter-finals: Northampton, Saracens, London Irish, Worcester

Pool Matches

Four points for a win, two points for a draw (match points). A bonus point will be earned by a team scoring four or more tries and by a team losing by seven or less points. The five Pool winners and three best placed runners-up will qualify for the quarter-finals and will be decided by the following criteria:

(i) the Pool winner will be the Club with the highest number of match points earned in each Pool. The runners-up will be the three second placed Clubs from all five Pools with the next highest number of points. For the quarter-final round, the Pool winners will be ranked 1 - 5 in terms of the number of points earned. The runners-up will be ranked 6, 7 and 8.

Clubs in the same Pool

(ii) if two or more Clubs are equal on points and the Clubs are in the same Pool, then qualification/ranking will be based on the matches played between the Clubs concerned:

(a) the Club which has earned the most number of match points from the matches
(b) the Club which has scored the most tries in the matches
(c) the Club with the best aggregate points difference from the matches

Clubs from a different Pool

(iii) if still unresolved, or the teams have not played each other previously in the Pool stage, qualification/ranking will be based on:

(a) the number of tries scored in all Pool matches
(b) aggregate points difference from all Pool matches
(c) the Club with the fewest number of players sent off and / or suspended in all Pool matches
(d) toss of a coin

Quarter-Finals:

Teams ranked 1 - 4 will have home advantage. The Quarter-Finals will be:

Team 1 v Team 8 (Match A)
Team 2 v Team 7 (Match B)
Team 3 v Team 6 (Match C)
Team 4 v Team 5 (Match D)

Semi-Finals:

The semi-finals will be knock-out, each played over one match. The winners of the quarter-final Match A will play the winners of Match D and the winners of Match B will play the winners of Match C at the home venues of the winners of Match A and B.