It is crunch time in the 2023-24 Investec Champions Cup as the final pool matches get under way.
Eight sides, including four from the English Premiership, have already clinched their place in the last 16.
But who are in pole position to fill the remaining spots? And who will be looking over their shoulder at the chasing pack?
The top four from each of the four pools will qualify for the knockout stages, meaning only two teams from each pool will fail to reach the next stage in April.
But with the top two sides in each group securing home knockout games, the final standings could be crucial.
If teams are level on points, they will first be separated by points difference, and then the number of tries scored.
It would then be decided on the fewest number of players suspended for disciplinary incidents, and if they are still level, the final method would be by drawing lots.
Pool 1 – Bristol and Saracens neck and neck
| Team | Played | Won | Lost | Drawn | Pts diff | Points | |
| 1 | Bordeaux Begles | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 95 | 15 |
| 2 | Lyon | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 12 |
| 3 | Bulls | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 10 |
| 4 | Bristol | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | -31 | 5 |
| 5 | Saracens | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | -32 | 5 |
| 6 | Connacht | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | -69 | 1 |
Bristol lead their English rivals Saracens in the final qualifying spot by virtue of being one point better off on the average points difference.
On Friday, Bristol travel to bottom club Connacht, who also have an outside chance of reaching the last 16, while Saracens host Lyon on Saturday.
Bristol need to claim a bonus-point victory over the Irish province and better Saracens’ score to ensure their qualification. Sarries also need the full five points on offer and to top Bristol’s scoreline by two points.
There is a slim chance both sides could catch Bulls, but it would require the South African side to lose heavily and concede their current 55-point advantage over Bristol and 56-point lead over Sarries.
Connacht, meanwhile, will also need a huge upturn in fortunes to reach the next stage by beating Bristol with a bonus point and then hoping Lyon win at the StoneX Stadium without the hosts gaining a losing bonus.
Bordeaux and Lyon are already through, but will want to maintain their current position and secure a home tie in the knockouts.
Pool 2 – three-way race for fourth
| Team | Played | Won | Lost | Drawn | Pts diff | Points | |
| 1 | Toulouse | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 97 | 15 |
| 2 | Bath | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 15 |
| 3 | Harlequins | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 10 |
| 4 | Ulster | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | -31 | 5 |
| 5 | Racing 92 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | -23 | 3 |
| 6 | Cardiff | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | -91 | 2 |
Toulouse, Bath and Harlequins are all through but one of Ulster, Racing 92 and Cardiff can still join them.
Ulster will seal their place with victory at Quins on Saturday, while a losing bonus point may also be enough if Cardiff win without scoring four tries against Racing in Paris.
If Ulster lose, Racing will advance by beating Cardiff, who can then claim their spot in the last 16 with a bonus-point success.
Leaders Toulouse host second-placed Bath on Sunday, with the winner sealing a home tie in the next round.
Quins can also book a home tie if they take all five points against Ulster and better the points difference of the loser from the encounter in France – as long as that team does not secure a bonus point.
Pool 3 – Saints first to claim home tie
| Team | Played | Won | Lost | Drawn | Pts diff | Points | |
| 1 | Northampton | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 59 | 14 |
| 2 | Exeter | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 13 |
| 3 | Munster | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 8 |
| 4 | Glasgow | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | -10 | 5 |
| 5 | Bayonne | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | -48 | 3 |
| 6 | Toulon | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | -15 | 2 |
Northampton Saints are the first side in this year’s Champions Cup to seal a home tie in the last 16.
Exeter are also through, while Munster can join them with at least a losing bonus point in Saturday’s meeting with Saints in Ireland.
Glasgow will retain the fourth qualifying spot with victory on Friday at home to bottom side Toulon, who can also reach the next stage with a win.
Bayonne can still qualify if they beat Exeter at home on Sunday and Glasgow lose.
Pool 4 – three spots up for grabs
| Team | Played | Won | Lost | Drawn | Pts diff | Points | |
| 1 | Leinster | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 53 | 14 |
| 2 | Stormers | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | -1 | 9 |
| 3 | Leicester | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | -21 | 9 |
| 4 | La Rochelle | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 25 | 7 |
| 5 | Sale | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 5 |
| 6 | Stade Francais | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | -62 | 1 |
Pool four is the most open going into the final weekend.
Leinster are the only side safely through and Stade Francais cannot progress. It means Stormers, Leicester, La Rochelle and Sale all have a chance of reaching the last 16.
South African side Stormers will seal qualification with victory over bottom club Stade Francais while, also on Saturday, Leicester can make certain of their spot by beating table-topping Leinster at home.
It is a straight shootout in Greater Manchester as Sale host La Rochelle, with the prize for the victors a place in the last 16.
If either Leicester or Stormers lose, they can be leapfrogged by the winner at the AJ Bell Stadium.
Sale, however, would need a bonus point to secure a home tie in that instance.
