Pool One Cardiff Blues in particular look to have recruited well and Dai Young’s side are thinking about possible home quarter- and semi-finals in April and May, before the final at the Millennium Stadium. The Blues haven’t made the final since the first, at Cardiff Arms Park in 1996, but look stronger than they did last year, when they won the Amlin Challenge Cup, and possibly the year before, when they came so close to making the Heineken final. Young has always done well with New Zealanders – Casey Laulala, Xavier Rush, Ben Blair – and looks to have picked up a gem this time with the back-row/lock Michael Paterson. Much will depend on the fitness of Gethin Jenkins and when Jamie Roberts returns. He’s due back in early December and that’s when the Blues meet Northampton, back-to-back. They may be the headline-grabbing matches, but there is a very real possibility that Castres will have a big say in who goes through.Photograph: David Rogers/Getty ImagesShaun’s predicted finish 1. Cardiff Blues 2. Northampton 3. Castres 4. Edinburgh Photograph: David Jones/PAPool Two This one is a monster. Clermont Auvergne have broken their duck in the Top 14 and they’ll fancy their chances of doing the same in the Heineken Cup. They’ve had a side that could win anywhere in Europe for several seasons now. Much will depend on Brock James (above left) staying strong mentally. The Australian can mastermind a game and kick his side to victory, but teams know he can be got at. That said, Morgan Parra is a handy back-up. Otherwise, Leinster know how to win but still seem to be settling in under new management and there must be questions about whether Racing Métro have the depth to go the distance. Their president, Jacky Lorenzetti, has spent a fortune – Juan Martín Hernández and Mirco Bergamasco joining François Steyn, Sébastien Chabal, Lionel Nallet and the rest – there is no side that’s bigger.Photograph: Thierry Zoccolan/AFP/Getty ImagesShaun’s predicted finish 1. Clermont 2. Saracens 3. Leinster 4. Racing Metro Photograph: Paul Harding/Action ImagesPool Three You wouldn't want to call this unless forced. London Irish are playing the best rugby in our league, Ospreys are another Welsh club sniffing the home run-in, after three away quarter-finals on the bounce, while Toulon and Jonny are motoring after an indifferent start. And then there’s Munster. Twice Heineken Cup champions, too frequently written off, but getting older and without their captain, Paul O’Connell, until after Christmas. By that time the Osprey double header will have been and gone. Is it time to think the unthinkable?Photograph: Jan Kruger/Getty Images for AironiShaun’s predicted finish 1. Ospreys 2. London Irish 3. Munster 4. Toulon Photograph: Henry Browne/Action ImagesPool Four This looks to be Bath’s if they can kick the habit of losing to Ulster. Ravenhill is a difficult place to win, but if Bath get on the front foot, the 1998 champions have the game to get past Ulster, holders a year later, and a stuttering Biarritz, who are closer to the bottom than the top in France.Photograph: Matthew Lewis/Getty ImagesShaun’s predicted finish 1. Bath 2. Ulster 3. Biarritz 4. Aironi Photograph: Claudio Villa/Getty Images EuropePool Five Leicester should top Pool Five, even though they do have injury troubles. Toby Flood (above) is coming back but may not be ready for tomorrow’s test in northern Italy. There are sure to be upsets over there and Benetton Treviso, who shocked Perpignan last season, have recruited cleverly – Joe Maddock from Bath – and have already beaten Scarlets (fellow pool members) as well as the Dragons and Leinster in the Magners League.Photograph: David Rogers/Getty ImagesShaun’s predicted finish 1. Leicester 2. Scarlets 3. Perpignan 4. Benetton Treviso Photograph: Warren Little/Getty ImagesPool Six Another pool where a left-field influence could be felt. While everyone is looking at Toulouse, the holders and four-times winners, and Wasps, twice winners ourselves, Newport could be the scene of some interest. Toulouse are there next week, we visit just before Christmas and I’ll be travelling with immense respect for Paul Turner and all he has achieved.Photograph: David Rogers/Getty ImagesShaun’s predicted finish 1. Wasps 2. Toulouse 3. Newport-Gwent Dragons 4. GlasgowPhotograph: Pascal Pavani/AFP/Getty Images
