Two games and all to play for

Jan 12 2008 by Gareth Griffiths, South Wales Echo

CARDIFF Blues, Bristol and Stade Francais will be fighting for the right to reach the Heineken Cup quarter-finals next weekend.

If two or more sides are equal on points qualification/ranking will be based on matches played between the two or more sides. This is how it could all play out next weekend:

The Blues, who head the pool with 16 points, are guaranteed a ticket into the quarter-finals if they win or draw.

They could also qualify as pool winners if they gain two losing bonus points.

But both Bristol or Stade could also pip them to the top spot.

For Bristol to reach the last eight they need to beat the Blues, stop their visitors from getting a bonus point and hope Harlequins can beat Stade.

For the French champions to progress they will need to secure either four or five points at the Twickenham Stoop.

They will need four to go through if Bristol beat the Blues without either side getting a bonus point, or five if Bristol come up with a bonus point in winning their last game and stopping the Blues from taking a bonus point.