Reigning European champions Munster will be within touching distance of a remarkable 11th successive quarter-final appearance if they beat closest rivals Sale Sharks in Limerick on Friday night. Sale must emulate Leicester and become only the second visiting team to win a Heineken Cup tie at Thomond Park, otherwise they are out, barring a mathematical miracle. Third-placed Clermont Auvergne, meanwhile, still have a slight chance of progressing.

Wasps, European champions in 2004 and 2007, must win Saturday's so-called 'Battle of the Capitals' against pool leaders Leinster at Twickenham to stay on course for the last eight. Victory over Castres in France on Sunday week could then be enough for the Londoners, but Leinster are currently in the driving seat, with a bonus-point win against Wasps guaranteeing they top the group.

Everything is geared towards a winner-takes-all showdown between the Ospreys and Leicester in Swansea on Saturday week, but the Ospreys require at least a losing bonus point from a treacherous trip to Perpignan this weekend, given that Leicester should secure a five-point maximum against Welford Road visitors Treviso.

Harlequins are in control of the group following mighty back-to-back victories over closest rivals Stade Francais last month. Four points from their last two games - Ulster away and the Scarlets at home - will be enough for Quins to reach the quarter-finals, although Stade could still pounce on any slip-ups.

Toulouse, last season's tournament runners-up, will win the group this weekend if they claim a five-point maximum against Glasgow and Bath collect nothing more than a losing bonus away to Newport Gwent Dragons. A Bath win though, sets up a pool decider against Toulouse at the Recreation Ground on Sunday week.

Cardiff Blues will finish top of the group and reach the last eight if they beat Kingsholm hosts Gloucester on Sunday. A Gloucester win takes it to the wire, but Blues would still be firm favourites, given their last game is at home to Italian strugglers Calvisano, while Gloucester must visit 2006 Heineken Cup runners-up Biarritz.

Heineken Cup 2008-09 - Round 5 (Local KO time, referee, TV coverage)

Friday, January 16, 2009
Pool 1 Munster v Sale Sharks (KO 20.00, Nigel Owens, Sky Sports/Canal+ Sport/Sky Italia/RTE*)
Pool 1 ASM Clermont Auvergne v Montauban (KO 21.00, Carlo Damasco, Canal+ Sport)
Pool 2 Edinburgh v Castres Olympique (KO 19.30, James Jones)

Saturday, Janaury 17, 2009
Pool 2 London Wasps v Leinster (KO 17.35, Christophe Berdos, Sky Sports/Canal+ Sport/Sky Italia/RTE*)
Pool 3 Perpignan v Ospreys (KO 16.35, Alain Rolland, (France 2/Sky Sports/Sky Italia)
Pool 3 Leicester Tigers v Benetton Treviso (KO 15.00, Pascal Gauzer)
Pool 4 Ulster Rugby v Harlequins (KO 13.35, Romain Poite, Sky Sports)
Pool 5 Toulouse v Glasgow Warriors (KO 14.35, Wayne Barnes, Canal+/Sky Sports**)
Pool 6 Rugby Calvisano v Biarritz Olympique (KO 14.35, Andrew Small, Sky Italia)

Sunday, Janaury 18, 2009
Pool 4 Scarlets v Stade Français Paris (KO 15.00, Dave Pearson, S4C*/Sky Sports**/France 2)
Pool 5 Newport Gwent Dragons v Bath Rugby (KO 13.00, George Clancy, Sky Sports)
Pool 6 Gloucester Rugby v Cardiff Blues (KO 15.00, Alan Lewis, Sky Sports/Sky Italia)

*Delayed highlights ** Red button