Heineken Cup week one is finally upon us and we are straight into the the action with some massively exciting matchups.

The Champions kick-off the tournament Thomond Park on Friday night while Saturday sees French giants Stade Francais try and start their campaign off the right way with a win over the Ulsterman.

Sunday’s action then caps off the weekend with growing rivals Leicester taking on the Ospreys, Bath travelling to Toulouse and struggling London Wasps looking to bounce back with a victory over Castres.

The question on everyone’s mind of course is a;ready, who is going to win the big one? Will it be one of the usual suspects? Can the likes of Stade, Leinster, Gloucester and

Ospreys finally win the big one?

Munster should really have little problem in their opener against Heineken Cup newcomers Montauban. The Red Army are undefeated so far this season, including an 18-0 win over Leinster, and look determined to retaining the trophy they won at the Millenium Stadium last year.

In Friday nights second clash, quarterfinalists from last year, Perpignan face northern Italian side Treviso is what they will consider a must win at home. In a group with both the Leicester Tigers and the Ospreys Coach Jacques Brunel has admitted they will face a battle to even repeat last year’s success.

"This year, the primary objective is to qualify for the quarter-finals because our pool is a lot harder than last year," the coach explained.

"Given our calendar, we will know very quickly if we have a chance because we host Treviso before going to Ospreys and Leicester. After two or three matches, we'll know were we stand in the pool."

SEVEN-STAR SATURDAY:

With a coach who is clearly not a happy camper at the moment the Cardiff Blues head to Calvisano in search of a much need moral boost. The Welsh side will have a fantastic chance of progressing from the group stages if they can get off to the right start in Italy. The Italian Champions have a horrid record in Heineken Cup rugby but of course will be hopeful that they can record a famous win at the Centro Sportivo San Michele on Saturday afternoon.

The second game in Pool A of the weekend see’s Juan Fernandez Lobbe Sale Sharks head to Clermont Auvergne in search of an invaluable away win. With Montauban expected to offer little opposition these two seem set to battle it out for the second qualifying spot. Awesome fire power against resolute defence - Vern Cotter and Jean-Pierre Laparra up against Philippe Saint-Andre and Kingsley Jones, it is a match that could form the entire structure of the group. 

Ireland and Scotland clash in the Heineken cup as well on Saturday when Leinster travel to Edinburgh. The two Magners League teams have already met this season, almost exactly a month prior to the 11 October clash. On that day in Donnybrooke Edinburgh were comprehensively beaten, 52-6. The only question then is what has changed in the last few weeks that might be able to give the Gunners fans some hope?

The late kickoff on Saturday sees Gloucester and Biarritz lock horns with both sides hoping to make something of their latest adventures into Europe.

The English side are going tired of their title as the GP chokers and captain Mike Tindall says they are determined to show their true value at the highest level this time around.

“We can't get away from the labels people put on us, but it's up to us to do something

about it, "said Tindall.

2006 Heineken Champions Biarritz should never be underestimated but Dean Ryan and his men would be incredibly disappointed if they failed to start the new European season off with a win at Kingsholm.

Sitting sixth and seventh in the Magners League at the moment, Glasgow and the Newport-Gwent Dragons were separated by just six points on the opening day of the domestic season with the Warriors just having the edge. Both teams will be desperate for the win as they will face uphill battles with Toulouse and Bath in order to progress from the group.

The two 15:30 kickoffs on Saturday both come from Pool Five with Quins taking on Scarlets and, the ever fashionable, Stade Francais heading to Ravenhill. The French side will no doubt remain the favourites to top the groups but all four will believe they will have at least some say in the matter before it is all said and done.

New Stade boss Ewen McKenzie admits he is a little nervous heading into the tournament for the first time but is confident his star studded side will get the job done.

"The team is used to the competition, but I'm a little bit nervous at the moment,”said the Australian.

The high profile French club’s player’s are clearly determined to finally crack the big one but will need to be at their best if they want to record their first ever win over the White knights at their home ground.

Argentine star Juan Martin Hernandez, “"We lost the 2005 final against Toulouse and it still hurt three months later. It took a long time to get over it."

The Scarlets always seem to lift their game for European competition but Harlequins have made a fantastic start to the new season and will be hoping to carry their fine form into Europe.

SPECTACULAR SUNDAY:

Both sides of the Leicester Ospreys clash have been building up to this fixture during the week. With recent history between the two only fueling the flames it looks set to be a fantastic clash.

Under new coach Heyneke Meyer the Tigers do seem to have their all-conquering attitude back at Welford Road. The Ospreys though also head into the Cup competition full of confidence and with their Welsh superstars keen to find historic success this time around.

"We were bitterly disappointed last year when we didn't go through to the semi-finals in what was otherwise a successful season for us," said Ospreys and Wales skipper Ryan Jones.

Leicester captain Martin Corry: "We are proud of our record in Europe at Welford Road but history and tradition doesn't win matches.

"We have a huge amount of respect for them. They keep on improving,although we like to think we are doing so as well.”

The two favourites for group four, Toulouse and Bath, clash on Sunday with everything to play for. With this fixture, and the return leg at the Recreation Ground in the final round of group fixtures, possibly what will decide who progresses as the league winners and runners-up there is no time to waste.

The other afternoon clash on Sunday sees two times Champions of Europe Wasps take on Top 14 side Castres in a game that they will be hoping gets their season back on track.

With all their ‘off the field’ issues with star Flyhalf Danny Cipriani and his bust-up with fullback Josh Lewsey, rarely has a team needed a good performance as much. Castres should not trouble the English side.

FRIDAY:

Munster v Montauban
Thomond Park , Munster, 20:00 Local time (21:00 SA time)

rugby365 Prediction:

Teams:

Munster: 15 K Earls; 14 D Howlett, 13 R Tipoki, 12 L Mafi, 11 I Dowling; 10 R O'Gara, 9 P Stringer; 1 M Horan, 2 J Flannery, 3 J Hayes, 4 D O'Callaghan, 5 P O'Connell (capt), 6 A Quinlan, 7 D Wallace, 8 J Melck.
Replacements: 16 D Fogarty, 17 F Pucciariello, 18 D Ryan, 19 J O'Sullivan, 20 M Prendergast, 21 P Warwick, 22 B Murphy.

Montauban: J Dalla Riva; S Jonnet, J Viard, R Jahouer, J Cassin; R Lespinas, P Mitu; B Balan, B Mach, N Adams, S Murray, R Frost, Y Caballero, M Raynaud (capt), M Clarkin.
Replacements: C Traversa, L DelBoulbes, S Florea, K Ghezal, A Battut, F Fortassin, J Laharrague

Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Touch Judges: Chris White (England) , Robin Goodliffe (England)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)

Perpignan v Treviso
Stade Aime Giral ,Perpignan, 20:00 Local time (21:00 SA time)

rugby365 Prediction:

Teams:

Perpignan: J Porical; A Plante, D Marty, J Grandclaude, F Sid; D Mele, C Cusiter; P Freshwater, M Tincu, N Mas (capt), O Olibeau, R Alvarez Kairelis, G Britz, J Perez, D Chouly.
Replacements: G Guirado, S Chobet, K Pulu, G Vilaceca, B Guiry, N Durand, P Burger

Benetton Treviso: B Williams; E Mulieri, B De Jager (capt), F Waters, A Vilk; A Marcato, S Picone; A Allori, F Sbaraglini, S Costanzo, A Pavanello, C Van Zyl, S Orlando, H Louw, D Kingi.
Replacements: D Vidal, A Ceccato, M Filippucci, E Pavanello, T Botes, M Goosen, A Sgarbi

Referee: James Jones (Wales)

SATURDAY:

Calvisano v Cardiff Blues
Centro Sportivo San Michele, Calvisano, 13:35 local time

rugby365 Prediction:

Teams:

Calvisano:
Replacements:

Cardiff Blues:
Replacements:

Referee: Rob Debney (England)
Touch judges: Tim Wigglesworth (England), Alan Biggs (England)
TMO: Dave Matthews (England)

Clemont Auvergne v Sale Sharks
Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin, Clermont-Ferrand 13:35

rugby365 Prediction:

Teams:

Clermont:
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Sale Sharks:
Replacements:

Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland)
Touch judges: Eanna O'Dowd (Ireland), Brian MacNeice (Ireland)
TMO: John Sheehan (Ireland)

Edinburgh v Leinster
Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, 13:35

rugby365 Prediction:

Teams:

Edinburgh:
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Leinster:
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Referee: David Pearson (England)
Touch judges: Roy Maybank, Stuart Terheege (England)
TMO: Geoff Warren (England)

Gloucester v Biarritz
Kingsholm, Gloucester, 17:30 local time (18:30 SA time)

rugby365 Prediction:

Teams:

Gloucester:
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Biarritz:
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Referee: Peter Allan (Scotland)
Touch judges: Rob Dickson (Scotland), Ron Dumma (Scotland)
TMO: Andy Ireland (Scotland)

Newport-Gwent Dragons v Glasgow
Rodney Park, Newport, 14:30 local time (15:30 SA time)

rugby365 Prediction:

Teams:

Dragons:
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Glasgow:
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Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Touch judges: Cédric Marchat (France), Eric Soulan (France)

Scarlets v Harlequins
Stanley Park. Llanelli, 15:30 local time (16:30 SA time)

rugby365 Prediction:

Teams:

Scarlets:
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Harlequins:
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Referee: Christophe Berdos (France)
Touch judges:
TMO:

Ulster v Stade Francais
Ravenhill, Ulster, 15:30 local time (16:30 SA tme)

rugby365 Prediction:

Teams:

Ulster:
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Stade Francais:
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Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Touch judges:
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SUNDAY:

Leicester v Ospreys
Welford Road, Leicester, 13:00 local time (14:00 SA Time)

rugby365 Prediction:

Teams:

Leicester:
Replacements:

Ospreys:
Replacements:

Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
Touch judges: David Wilkinson (Ireland), S Flannery (Ireland)
TMO: B Fitzgerald (Ireland)

Toulouse v Bath
Stade Ernest-Wallon, Toulouse, 15:00 local time

rugby365 Prediction:

Teams:

Toulouse:
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Bath:
Replacements:

Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Touch judges: David Keane (Ireland), Jonathan Peake (Ireland)
TMO: Marshall Kilgore (Ireland)

Wasps v Castres
Adams Park, High Wycombe, 15:00 local time (SA time)

rugby365 Prediction:

Teams:

Wasps:
Replacements:

Castres:
Replacements:

Referee: Carlo Damasco (Italy)
Touch judges:
TMO: John Burtenshaw