Neath and Bristol Shoguns will clash in a good old-fashioned Anglo-Welsh showdown at The Gnoll on 5 January, 2002 - except this time a prestigious PARKER PEN SHIELD quarter-final place will be on the line.

Dean Ryan's star-studded cosmopolitan Bristol side are one of the six teams defending 100 per cent records after four rounds of the tournament. Pau, Sale Sharks, London Irish, Gloucester and Saracens are the others on four from four.

"Our Pool has been a wonderful group and it will all come down to the last two rounds," said coach Ryan. "All four of the sides in Pool 5 have been hugely competitive.

"Our trip to Neath will decide - or go a long way to deciding - who goes through from our group so it is a huge game. I have played at The Gnoll a couple of times in the dim and distant past so I know what to expect but I never played there in as important a match as the PARKER PEN SHIELD one coming up."

Neath pushed Bristol all the way in Round 2 before going down 10-6 and Shane Drahm's try at the Memorial Stadium could yet prove crucial in any tight rematch.

Lyn Jones, the Neath coach declared: "It is a huge match for us - Bristol have found some form since we last played them and have got players like fly half Felipe Contepomi back. It is going to be a very hard game.

"Big challenges like this don't come to The Gnoll that often and the extra spice of the clash is evident in that we are not far from being a sell-out.
"We have to win - and win with tries and by four or more points. But that is just for starters. Then we would have to go to Viadana and win again...and that is easier said than done.

"We have been disappointing since Day 1 in Europe, though at least this season we have recorded our first away win in Europe, at Bourgoin, and I am pleased we are at last getting to grips with the competition.

"Bristol have quality players wherever you look and they will represent a formidable test of just where Neath are at the moment."

Elsewhere there are a host of other key contests - including the strictly French affairs with Montauban's visit to Agen (now being played on Friday, 4 January, and not the Saturday) - in Pool 1 and Pau's home clash with Colomiers in Pool 2.

In the highly congested Pool 3, where Leeds Tykes, Beziers, Overmach Parma and Pontypridd are all locked together on four points, Beziers and Overmach Parma will enjoy home advantage against Leeds and Pontypridd respectively.

Please note the following changes to Round 5 matches:

Pool 1 - Agen v Montauban now being played Friday, 4 January (Kick-off 1930)
Pool 2 - The kick-off for Madrid 2012 v Petrarca is now 1230
Pool 5 - Bourgoin v Viadana now being played Saturday, 5 January (Kick-off 1500)
Pool 7 - The kick-off for Gloucester v GR.A.N. Parma is now 1500