Everyone involved with French club Pau will be on tenterhooks tonight as the only team that can deny them a quarter final place in the Heineken Cup take on Newport.

It would take a remarkable effort, however, for Bath to do what Pau did to Llanelli and make the last eight as they need to score no fewer than 12 tries against a side that beat them 28-17 last time out in the pool stages.

For Pau, should Bath fail, the reward for making the most of their qualification to the Heineken Cup by way of winning last season's European Shield is a daunting trip to cup favourites Stade Francais.

Al Charron, Pau's Canadian captain, said was expecting the trip to the capital to present more of a challenge than the recent home game against the French champions won by Pau 21-6.

"We played well when we played Stade Francais two weeks ago but we also caught them off the mark. They are much stronger at home and we are going to have to play a lot better if we are to go through to the semi-finals," he said.

Coach Jacques Brunel will also be looking for an improved performance from his side but he said the way they beat the odds at the weekend to make the quarters will have given his side plenty of hope.

"After the difficulties we encountered this weekend, I think we are ready to meet anyone. Having met the challenge of scoring five tries in beating Pontypridd, we will now endeavour to meet our next challenge, which is to prepare to beat Stade Francais on Saturday.

"There is a lot of potential in this team but nonetheless we will have to produce a faultless performance against Stade Francais - providing we are confirmed as quarter-finalists on Tuesday night."

Pau will be nursing a few injuries before Saturday's expected all-French showdown. Prop Sebastien Bria is suffering from a muscular problem after Sunday's rearranged Pool 6 game against Pontypridd but fellow prop Pierre Triep-Capdeville should come through after taking a knock to the leg.

Meanwhile French international hooker Marc Dal Maso is recovering well from a muscular problem. Jacques Brunel said, "Marc played in a B team match on Saturday so hopefully he will have come through that game well enough to play on Saturday."