Tigers on the prowl for a home quarter-final

LEICESTER boss Dean Richards believes his Heineken Cup holders cannot afford to drop any more points in their quest for a prized home quarter-final.

Although Tigers are still unbeaten in Europe this season, an opening game draw at Neath means Leicester are behind 100% teams Gloucester, Toulouse, Leinster and Bourgoin.

For Richards' men to guarantee themselves a last-eight clash at Welford Road where Swansea and Leinster perished during the last two seasons of Tigers' European glory they must beat remaining Pool One opponents Beziers, Calvisano and Neath, while hoping that at least one unbeaten record falls elsewhere.

Only three sides Brive, Llanelli and Munster have ever won Heineken Cup quarter-finals on the road, compared to 17 home victors from 20 last-eight ties.

It is a statistic not lost on the Leicester rugby director, who looks set to make just one change for today's Welford Road rematch against Bezier by calling up Graham Rowntree instead of Perry Freshwater.

"We have not given up hope of a home quarter-final," Richards said.

"But we are aware that if we drop any more points, then it would be very difficult to get a home draw."

Leicester's 24-12 success in Bezier last weekend put them top of their group, and it would now appear to be a two-horse race between Tigers and the French outfit for quarter-final status.

Neath effectively blew their chances through a 38-29 defeat against Italian minnows Calvisano six days ago, and today's return fixture cannot come soon enough for coach Lyn Jones.

"Our defeat in Italy will haunt us for some time," he admitted. "But we have to look positively towards the rest of the season."

Gloucester face a testing Pool Two appointment with Perpignan at Stade Aime Giral today, and the Zurich

Premiership leaders have not been lulled into any false sense of security by last Sunday's 33-16 success against the same opponents.

"Perpignan are a tough challenge up front, probably the biggest challenge we have faced all season in a scrummaging situation," said Gloucester coach Dean Ryan.

"We need to pay respect to the quality of our opponents for the return visit. Only recently, we saw them run all over Toulouse at home, and it is the nature of the Heineken Cup that every game is a top challenge."

Munster, who visit Viadana in Pool Two today, will be hoping for a Gloucester slip-up following their emphatic reversal at Kingsholm in October as the quarter-final dash begins to gather momentum.

Ulster make the trip to French champions Biarritz in Pool Six today, with coach Alan Solomons making one enforced change following last Friday's 13-9 home win against Serge Betsen and company. Adam Larkin plays at centre instead of the concussed Ryan Constable.

Fellow Pool Six contenders Northampton play tomorrow, visiting Cardiff fresh from a 25-11 win against the same opponents last weekend.

Bristol Shoguns and London Irish must win home Anglo-Welsh clashes tomorrow if they are to revive any qualifying hopes from Pools Four and Five.

Irish entertain Newport, knowing they must win and hope Edinburgh can assist their quarter-final bid by claiming the scalp of Toulouse in France, also tomorrow.