Rugby fans give the lowdown on their teams as a new season of Heineken Cup action gets under way.

Pool 1: Treviso, Castres, Wasps, Perpignan
Pool 2: Edinburgh, Gloucester, Leinster, Agen
Pool 3: Calvisano, Ospreys, Sale, Stade Francais
Pool 4: Bourgoin, Cardiff, Leicester, Munster
Pool 5: Llanelli, London Irish, Toulouse, Ulster
Pool 6: Biarritz, Border Reivers, Northampton, Parma

Key player: Josh Lewsey. It's the backs that seem to lack guidance at the moment. We've had four different fly-halves and four centre partnerships. If Josh can show his glimpses of 2003 again, then his hard running and big tackles will be a welcome sight.

Young star: Tom Rees. Exactly the big built back row ball carrier both England and Wasps need right now so expect him to win a lot of plaudits.

Expectations: The last two seasons we haven't exactly set the Cup alight. We're still looking for the elusive spark when abroad, but this strong English filled squad should get us to the quarters

Coach: Shaun Edwards and Ian McGeechan. The ultimate competitor with one of the shrewdest minds in modern rugby. the players can only have themselves to blame if they don't succeed

Match day: It's difficult to beat a chilly day in the Chilterns with a hot chocolate. Not quite the Fortress Wycombe of a few years ago but still formidable. Bring 'em on!

By a BBC Sport journalist

Key player: Many might say captain and flanker Silvio Orlando. A veteran of 13 Heineken Cup matches, the 25-year-old faces the daunting task of trying to lead the team back to winning ways after their last year's dismal exit in the pool stages. Simon Picone could be another shout. Having played for Italy at both under-19 and under-21 level, the centre has been on the fringes of the senior squad for the past two years and featured in the Six Nations.

Expectations: Treviso can certainly be competitive, especially at home, and ran Saracens pretty close at Vicarage Road in January before their English opponents prevailed 35-30. However, they still lost all six games last season and are favourites to finish bottom again this time around. At best they'll be hoping to match the heady heights of three pool victories in 2004-2005, but it's unlikely that they'll become the first team to reach the knockout stages of the competition.

Coach: Former All Blacks winger Craig Green was at the peak of his playing career in the mid to late 1980s and had a key role in New Zealand's World Cup win in 1987. The 45-year-old ended his playing days in Italy before moving into coaching. In 2004-2005 season, Green saw Treviso win half their pool stage matches, including the double over Bourgoin and a 29-23 home triumph over 1998 champions Bath. But his side failed to recapture that form last season as they exited the tournament without a win.

Match day: Stadio Comunale di Monigio (9,000 places) has always brought out the best in the Italian Super 10 champions, although their last Heineken Cup triumph there was a 40-29 win against Bourgoin in January 2005. Crowds ranged between 2,500 and 3,500 last season but the team has attracted more in past campaigns.

AOB: Founded in 1932, Treviso have won 12 national titles, the last one in 2006, and three Italian Cups.

By a BBC Sport journalist

Key player: France lock Pascal Pape, who joined Castres from Bourgoin this year. He was part of the club's high-profile summer recruitment policy, which also included Gordon Ross from Leeds, and if he can lead from the front then they may have a chance.

Young star: Pablo Canavosio who joined the club in the summer from Calvisano. Italian scrum-half born in Argentina who can also play on the wing and who has pace to burn. Welsh fans will remember him following his intercept try in the Six Nations draw in Cardiff this year.

Expectations: Not great to be honest. Lost players such as Paul Volley (Harlequins), Kees Meeuws (Agen) and Yann Delaigue (Toulon) as well as having a poor start to the domestic Top 14 season. The semi-finals of 2002 look way out of sight for this year. Last season were unlucky to be drawn with Munster and Sale and ended up with only one win. This year, up against the mighty Wasps and Perpignan and unfortunately, are unlikely to get through the group again.

Coach: Laurent Seigne. Former France prop who joined the club in 2005 but is under a bit of pressure because of their form in the domestic league. They have lost seven of their opening 11 games and are fourth from bottom.

Match day: Stade Pierre-Antoine (capacity of 9,423) will be key to their chances. Must be difficult to beat here if they are to have any hope.

Key player: Nicolas Laharrague and David Marty are both classy backs with international experience who add some much needed flair to the USAP attack. However, the backs are having a bit a bad time at the moment. Nathan Hines is immense in the second row, while up front you have to watch out for the local legend - Nicolas Mas.

Young star: A young scrum half called M�l� (I think!), he looks lively and cheeky, which is all you really need at 9!

Expectations: USAP are, according to the local press, "en crise" at the moment, after having lost three times in a week - two of those games being to the newly promoted teams. There is also turmoil upstairs with the president set to announce his departure next week. As a result, you get the impression that USAP are going to concentrate on league matters this season. After all, when you used to being in the top four and you're currently struggling to hold on to sixth place then you know something's up!

Coach: Philippe Boher. Has taken a lot of stick from the local press because of the team's current form, but he doesn't react much to it. In fact, he seems to be a man of very few words. With changes upstairs he could also be on his way out at the end of this season.

Match day: Absolutely fantastic. There is mass of red and yellow, as well as a brass band, and a wonderfully noisy Catalan section. At only three Euros for a student ticket, I certainly can't complain.

AOB: USAP are a reactionary team, so by the time those big boys from Wasps come over it could well time for a big performance. They are also generally quite good at home, in the ferocious Stade Aim� Giral. Imagine Kingsholm with a Catalan twist!