Holders Leicester face possibly the toughest group

Holders Leicester, who are in Group B, start away at old rivals Bath on the weekend of 26-28 October, with Cardiff Blues and Sale completing the pool.

Runners-up the Ospreys open away at Mike Ruddock's Worcester, with London Irish and Harlequins making up Group C.

Newport Gwent Dragons, Gloucester, Wasps and Newcastle form Group A, while Llanelli Scarlets are alongside Leeds, Saracens and Bristol in Group D.

The first two rounds of fixtures are on successive weekends, with the final group round on 30 November-1 December, the semi-finals on 22 March, and the final on 12 April.

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The 27 October Worcester-Ospreys game will be the showpiece BBC live television match on the opening weekend, with the 3 November Leicester-Blues match shown seven days later.

Of the Welsh regions, the Scarlets and Dragons have two home and one away fixture in the pool rounds, while the Blues and Ospreys will have to travel twice.

"With different pools to last season, the EDF Energy Cup once again promises to be a thrilling Anglo-Welsh contest," said Premier Rugby chief executive Mark McCafferty.

"Last season the competition showed that the regions and the clubs were well matched, with one Welsh region and one Guinness Premiership club making it through to the final."