Six unbeaten clubs from three of the Amlin Challenge Cup pools will be in direct opposition when the crucial pre-Christmas back-to-back games in round 3 and round 4 get underway later this week.
With both Worcester Warriors and Perpignan on a maximum 10 points after the opening two rounds, something has to give in Pool 2 with the first of two intriguing
Anglo-French clashes at Sixways Stadium on Thursday. Whoever comes out on top following the fixtures will be in pole position to win the pool and book a place in the quarter-finals later this season.
France and England will also do battle in Pool 3 when unbeaten Bayonne host pool leaders, London Wasps, at Stade Jean Dauger on Saturday, while the key confrontations in Pool 1 also kick off on Saturday when London Irish, armed with a
maximum 10 points, go head-to-head with their undefeated English rivals, Gloucester
Rugby, at the Madejski Stadium.
Elsewhere, Bath Rugby, the fourth club with maximum points from two games will be looking to consolidate their position at the head of Pool 4 when they host Cammi Rugby Calvisano at the Recreation Ground. Pool 5 leaders, Stade Francais Paris, will also be up against Italian opposition when they travel to meet I Cavalieri Prato at Stadio Enrico Chersoni.