All the permutations as Euro pool stages conclude
Top seeding, home play-offs and qualification spots are up for grabs as the Challenge Cup pool stages conclude.
With plenty on the line, expect fireworks in these final fixtures as sides push for as high a seeding as possible to secure home knockouts, while others scrap to continue their journeys.
As a reminder, the four highest-ranked clubs in each pool and the fifth-ranked clubs from each Champions Cup pool will qualify for the Round of 16.
All clubs will thereafter be ranked in descending order based first on their pool ranking and subsequently on the number of match points they have accumulated, creating an overall ranking from One to 16.
Friday: Cardiff and Connacht clash, Falcons face French foes
Having beaten Lyon Olympique with a bonus point in Round Three, Connacht secured a Round of 16 spot. It will be aiming for the highest possible ranking for home knockouts thereafter as they welcome Cardiff.
The visitors travel to Galway needing a win to secure qualification, but a bonus point victory could put them in with a chance of a home knockout, which they’ll have extra motivation for given the Final is being held just next door at the Millennium Stadium in May.
At the same time, Newcastle Falcons welcome Montpellier to Kingston Park with the French side already qualified but also hunting a high ranking.
The hosts would need a bonus-point victory with a winning margin of at least 37 points, along with both Dragons and Lions to get nothing from their games, to make it through.
Saturday: Four fateful fixtures
Section Paloise and Ospreys do battle to start a super Saturday – equal on 10 points in Pool Two after both winning their Round Three games against Dragons and Falcons respectively, they both need a point to qualify but will be fighting for a home knockout spot.
Pool Two is then concluded as Lions host Dragons, also equal on points and both losing out in Round Three, in a head-to-head for the Final qualification spots.
The last two games of the day follow that in the evening slot as Scarlets welcome Vannes and Cheetahs travel to Lyon.
Vannes are currently sitting in the last qualification spot in Pool Three having earned a losing bonus point against Edinburgh, while Scarlets are a single point behind after coming away from Gloucester with nothing, so both need a win to secure knockout rugby.
Sunday: Three thrillers to tie up Pool Stages
A double header kicks off the final pool stage match day as Edinburgh host Black Lion and Gloucester travel to Aviron Bayonnais.
The Scots earned a bonus-point win on the road against Vannes in Round Three, but in a tight pool, they still need a win to secure qualification and will be aiming for a home knockout, while the Georgians fell to Bayonnais and sit in the bottom spot needing a bonus-point win to confirm qualification.
Simultaneously, Gloucester heads to France off the back of a bonus-point win over Scarlets and will be eyeing a home knockout spot, but will be going head to head for that space with Bayonnais who lie a point behind after a bonus-point victory against Black Lion.
Source @ChallengeCup
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