First Division Rotherham have been rewarded for their Powergen Cup defeat of Bristol with an away quarter-final against holders London Irish.

Premiership leaders Gloucester will be at home to Saracens, while Bath host Northampton.

In the other tie, Harlequins have been drawn against Leicester at The Stoop for the third year running.

Rotherham were denied promotion last term, despite finishing top of Division One.

They have now gone 33 games unbeaten and will provide a stern test for Irish, who scraped through with victory over Newcastle.

Player-coach Mike Schmid admitted: "After the disappointment over being denied promotion, the guys wanted to show the sceptics that we are for real, and we are knocking that door.

It doesn't matter who we have been drawn against in the next round Sarries director of rugby Wayne Shelford

"Bristol have been a Premiership side for some years now and the side they put out made our players even more hungry for success."

Sarries director of rugby Wayne Shelford claims his side, who edged past Sale, will be far from daunted by the prospect of a trip to Kingsholm.

"It doesn't matter who we have been drawn against in the next round," he said.

"We have got to play one of the big teams at some point. "It would have been nice to have been at home, but it can be done.

"Gloucester have got a good unit, but it will all come down to the day. We will go there to win."

Harlequins will be looking to see off the challenge of Leicester for the third season in a row.

Both sides recorded comfortable wins over Leeds and Worcester respectively, but Quins will have the psychological advantage when Leicester travel to the Stoop.

Last season they edged through 22-20 at the same stage of the competition, while the Londoners also won 22-18 in the semi-final of the then Tetley's Bitter Cup in 2001 before going on to lose to Newcastle.

Bath - 10-times record winners but who had not won for almost five years in the competition before their victory at Wasps - are at home to Northampton.

The Saints beat Orrell 55-44 in round six.

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Powergen Cup quarter-final draw

Gloucester v Saracens
Bath v Northampton
Harlequins v Leicester
London Irish v Rotherham

Ties to be played 25 and 26 January