LEICESTER: Coach Richard Cockerill Capt Geordan Murphy Player to watch Anthony Allen HC pedigree: Winners 2001, 2002

OSPREYS: Coach Scott Johnson Captain Ryan Jones Player to watch: Tommy Bowe HC pedigree: Quarter-finals 2008, 2009

CLERMONT AUVERGNE: Coach Vern Cotter Captain Aurelien Rougerie Player to watch: Jason White HC pedigree: Quarter-finals 2000, 2002

VIADANA: Coach Antonio Zanichelli Captain Quintin Geldenhuys Player to watch: Kaine Robertson HC pedigree: Pool stages

Assuming Viadana conform to cannon fodder status - the Italians have yet to win a Heineken Cup match - then a three-way heavyweight battle to the wire looms.

Leicester have the pedigree, history and cussedness to reach a record sixth final, but are struggling for attacking fluency in the absence of several key playmakers.

Clermont remain a force domestically, despite an agonising 11th failure in a French Championship final last season.

But they have yet to suggest they are capable of advancing so far in Europe, a predicament familiar to the Ospreys, quarter-finalists for the past two seasons.

Despite a sticky start on the home front, the Welsh region are clicking into gear and have the personnel to go far if they can resist the weight of expectation on them.