The third round of European Cup fixtures gets underway on Friday with seven sides defending perfect 100 percent records after two matches.

Reigning European and English Premiership champions Leicester are one of those sides and their Pool One fixture away to Perpignan gives Dean Richards' men a chance to mark up another impressive achievement.

Victory in France would give Leicester their ninth straight European Cup win, equalling the tournament record set by former champions Brive between 1996-1998.

But former England No 8 Richards (pictured) is far more worried about Perpignan than he is about chalking up a record. "I am looking at the match at Perpignan with a bit of trepidation," said Richards.

"We lost to them in a friendly earlier in the year and, although we were not at full strength, neither were they. However, that game told us a lot about them and their strengths.

"As to playing in France, yes we have won matches in France, so we know what it takes to do that," said Richards whose team beat Stade Francais in Paris last season to lift the trophy.

"But we have also lost matches over there, it is never easy. Perpignan are, on their day, a side more than capable of beating the best in Europe. It is a big challenge for us."

This weekend's fixtures are the first 'leg' of a series of back-to-back encounters that will have a major bearing on which teams go through to the last eight.

Elsewhere the injury toll from Ireland's 20-14 Six Nations victory over England in Dublin last Saturday could have consequences for a number of clubs.

Ireland centre Brian O'Driscoll may miss Leinster's Pool Six battle against fellow unbeaten side Newport when the Welsh club come to Donnybrook on Friday.

The Lions centre has left knee ligament damage and a finger injury, although it is the latter that is causing Ireland coach Warren Gatland most concern.

"The finger injury is probably more worrying than the knee at the moment. It's something he's suffered before and he could need a splint for a while or even a small operation," said Gatland.

Another match between two unbeaten sides sees Stade Francais entertain Ulster on Saturday in Pool Two. But the long awaited kicking duel between Stade's Italy points machine Diego Dominguez and Ulster's David Humphreys may not take place.

The Ireland outside-half sustained ankle ligament damage against England and was forced to attend the post-match dinner on crutches. "It looks as though David could be out for two or three weeks," said Gatland. "We'll have to get the damage fully assessed before we know, but it doesn't look good."

Another Dublin casualty was England scrumhalf Matt Dawson who limped off with a torn hamstring. He immediately ruled himself out of Northampton's home tie against Montferrand, another unbeaten side.

The other two teams with perfect European Cup records this season are English Premiership side Bath, who travel to Edinburgh on Saturday and Irish province Munster who go to Wales on Friday to play Bridgend.

French champions Toulouse, one of the pre-tournament favourites, went down to a shock 21-20 second round defeat by Newport earlier this month. But Toulouse have won three games in a row since then and on Sunday they are at home to English Cup holders Newcastle.

"We never doubted our ability to bounce back which we have done due to the hard work we put in week after week," said Toulouse co-captain Fabien Pelous.

Toulouse weil be strengthend by the return from injury of centres Emile Ntamack and Clement Poitrenaud and wing Cedric Heymans. But centre Cedric Desbrosse took a blow to the ribs during Sunday's 40-21 win over La Rochelle while fellow midfield back Arnaud Dumas is still out with a leg injury.

Fixtures:

Friday:

Pool 4: Bridgend (Wal) v Munster (Irl)
Pool 6: Leinster (Irl) v Newport (Wal)

Saturday:

Pool 1: Perpignan (Fra) v Leicester (Eng)
Pool 2: Stade Francais (Fra) v Ulster
Pool 3: Edinburgh (Sco) v Bath (Eng)
Pool 3: Swansea (Wal) v Biarritz (Fra)
Pool 5: Cardiff (Wal) v Glasgow (Sco)
Pool 5: Northampton (Eng) v Montferrand (Fra)

Sunday:

Pool 1: Calvisano (Ita) v Llanelli (Wal)
Pool 2: Wasps (Eng) v Treviso (Ita)
Pool 4: Harlequins (Eng) v Castres (Fra)
Pool 6: Toulouse (Fra) v Newcastle (Eng) - Sapa-AFP