Holders Wasps are braced for another ferocious European test on Saturday, with rugby director Ian McGeechan admitting: "Every game feels like a cup final."
A week after edging out Munster in a pulsating Heineken Cup Pool Five encounter, Wasps head to Stradey Park for an appointment with Llanelli Scarlets.
The game comes just 48 hours after Llanelli's famous old ground staged an emotional farewell to Ray Gravell, one of their greatest players, who died suddenly while on holiday in Spain.
McGeechan said: "It has been a very emotional week for the people of west Wales.
"And in what is always such a good rugby corner of the world there, we know the game will be played in a very intense atmosphere.
"Pool Five is so competitive that every game feels like a cup final, and that is how we will be approaching the game against Llanelli."
Wasps are unchanged following the 24-23 success against Munster, but a notable bench alteration sees Josh Lewsey included after recovering from the hamstring injury which ruled him out of last month's World Cup final between England and South Africa in Paris.
The Scarlets welcome back fit-again skipper Simon Easterby and wing Mark Jones - both players missed last Sunday's defeat against Clermont Auvergne - as they target a third home Heineken Cup victory over Wasps following successes in 2000 and 2005.
Scarlets rugby director Phil Davies said: "I had a bit of a look at Wasps' game against Munster, but we already knew enough about them.
"We know they are a quality side - they would not be champions of Europe if they weren't."
Argentina's World Cup coach Marcelo Loffreda takes charge of Leicester for the first time at Welford Road on Saturday, where Tigers face Edinburgh in Pool Six.
The last time Loffreda and new Edinburgh boss Andy Robinson locked horns was at Twickenham a year ago, when Argentina's historic victory over England effectively cost Robinson his job.
Tigers, anxious to bounce back quickly following a 22-9 defeat against Leinster in Dublin, welcome back England World Cup centre Dan Hipkiss, who has recovered from flu, while there are starts for prop Martin Castrogiovanni and lock Marco Wentzel.
Saracens rugby director Alan Gaffney has vowed his team will "give it a go" against Pool Four favourites Biarritz in France.
Gaffney's men are top of the group following their bonus-point win against Glasgow last weekend, but Biarritz rarely lose on home soil in Heineken Cup combat.
Flanker Kris Chesney makes his 300th appearance for Saracens, while there are also starts for full-back Richard Haughton, prop Nick Lloyd and lock Tom Ryder.
Former Munster boss Gaffney said: "I have taken teams down to Biarritz in previous seasons and I know how strong they can be at home.
"They have quality players across the pitch, but we are playing with a lot of confidence at the minute and we will go down there and give it a go.
"When you play in France, you have to make things happen or you will face a very long afternoon."
Harlequins have moved England wing David Strettle to centre for their Pool Three appointment with Twickenham Stoop visitors Cardiff Blues.
But Cardiff will again be without injured fly-half Nicky Robinson for the trip to London, while changes following a comfortable victory over Bristol last weekend see starts for new Wales captain Gethin Jenkins and his front-row colleague Rhys Thomas.
Blues boss David Young said: "Harlequins are a very difficult team to beat at the Twickenham Stoop - they have turned it into a bit of a fortress.
"I was pleased with our result against Bristol, but we still need to be far more clinical."
Pool One leaders London Irish visit Newport Gwent Dragons , with the Welsh side underlining their dark horse potential for the quarter-finals by outscoring fancied French hosts Perpignan on tries last time out.
Former Wales full-back Kevin Morgan returns to the Dragons line-up, with Irish calling up Samoan wing Sailosi Tagicakibau instead of Topsy Ojo.
Exiles rugby director Brian Smith said: "We got our Heineken Cup campaign off to the best possible start last weekend (Irish beat Treviso 42-9), but we face a completely different test tomorrow.
"The Dragons did themselves proud in Perpignan, so we are in for a massive challenge at Rodney Parade."
Sunday's action sees Bristol - minus injured forwards Matt Salter and Nathan Budgett - host tournament favourites Stade Francais, with Clermont Auvergne away to Munster and Toulouse entertaining Leinster.
More news from SportingLife.com
