Who needs what to qualify for Champions Cup last 16?

The last circular of the excavation signifier of the 2024-25 Champions Cup takes spot this weekend, giving teams 1 past accidental to unafraid their spot successful the knockout rounds.

Seven sides, including Glasgow Warriors, Northampton Saints and Leicester Tigers, person already clinched their spots successful the past 16 successful April.

But which clubs are successful presumption to capable the remaining spots? And who volition beryllium looking implicit their enarthrosis astatine the chasing pack?

The apical 4 sides from each excavation qualify, with the apical 2 gaining location vantage successful the past 16.

The teams finishing 5th successful each excavation volition driblet down into the past 16 of the Challenge Cup.

If 2 oregon much clubs successful the aforesaid excavation are adjacent connected lucifer points, their ranking volition beryllium determined by points difference, oregon if inactive equal, the fig of tries scored successful the excavation stage.

In the improbable lawsuit that some metrics are equal, it volition beryllium decided by the drafting of lots.

Teams are awarded 4 points for a triumph and 2 for a draw.

A bonus constituent is awarded to a nine scoring 4 oregon much tries and besides to a nine losing by 7 points oregon less - truthful a squad doing some successful a lucifer but losing would inactive get 2 points.

Fixtures:

Friday, 17 January - Ulster v Exeter (20:00 GMT)

Sunday, 19 January - Bordeaux-Begles v Sharks (13:00 GMT), Toulouse v Leicester Tigers (15:15)

Ulster and Exeter Chiefs, the 2 winless sides successful Pool 1, look disconnected connected Friday astatine Kingspan Stadium successful a lucifer apt to determine who volition decorativeness 5th and unafraid Challenge Cup qualification.

Both sides inactive person a slim accidental of a spot successful the Champions Cup past 16, but the winning broadside would request to unafraid a bonus constituent 4th effort and anticipation Bordeaux thrash Sharks connected Sunday by a large capable borderline for them to spell done connected points difference.

Sharks request a constituent from their last crippled to scope the past 16, portion Leicester Tigers, Toulouse and Bordeaux person each qualified.

Leicester look Toulouse connected Sunday knowing a triumph could unafraid 1 of the apical 2 seeds and location vantage successful the past 16.

Maximum points for Bordeaux against Sharks volition unafraid their spot arsenic apical seeds. Failure to bash truthful volition manus Toulouse oregon Tigers an accidental to bargain apical spot.

Fixtures:

Saturday, 18 January - Clermont Auvergne v Bristol (15:15 GMT), Benetton v La Rochelle (17:30 GMT), Leinster v Bath (17:30)

Leinster have already qualified and cognize a triumph astatine location to Bath connected Saturday volition unafraid their spot arsenic fig 1 seeds from Pool 2.

Clermont know a location triumph implicit Bristol is apt to springiness them a spot successful the past 16 due to the fact that of the hard games facing Bath and Benetton.

Bristol besides cognize a triumph would astir apt instrumentality them done if those results besides spell their way.

A constituent for La Rochelle, who look Benetton, will beryllium capable to unafraid their presumption successful the apical four, and a triumph would unafraid a top-two seeding.

Benetton volition suffice with a win, and if they tin overtake their opponents - they are 3 points down La Rochelle but with a markedly worse points quality - could unafraid a last-16 location tie, depending connected what Bath do.

Bath know a triumph implicit Leinster would unafraid capable points to qualify. However, they tin inactive suffice without picking up immoderate points if results spell their way.

Fixtures:

Saturday, 18 January - Bulls v Stade Francais (13:00 GMT), Northampton Saints v Munster (15:15 GMT)

Sunday, 19 January - Saracens v Castres (15:15 GMT)

Only South African broadside Bulls are retired of the moving for the past 16 successful Pool 3.

Fifth-placed Stade Francais travel to South Africa to look Bulls connected Saturday, knowing a bonus-point triumph is astir apt needed.

Fourth-placed Castres, on 9 points, request 2 points to corroborate qualification from their last crippled astatine Saracens on Sunday.

A constituent is capable for Saracens or Munster, who question to Northampton connected Saturday.

A bonus-point triumph for Sarries would springiness them location vantage successful the past 16. Similarly, triumph for Northampton Saints implicit Munster would unafraid a top-two seeding.

But a triumph for the Irish state would unafraid location vantage for them.

Fixtures:

Saturday, 18 January - Harlequins v Glasgow Warriors (20:00 GMT), Racing 92 v Stormers (20:00 GMT)

Sunday, 19 January - Sale v Toulon (17:30 GMT)

Toulon and Glasgow Warriors cannot beryllium caught astatine the apical of Pool 4, meaning some person secured location vantage successful the past 16.

A bonus-point triumph for Toulon successful their last crippled astatine Sale Sharks connected Sunday volition unafraid apical spot.

With 1 constituent separating 3rd to sixth, bonus points volition astir apt determine the result of the apical four.

Harlequins face Glasgow on Saturday - and their points quality vantage implicit fifth-placed Sale means picking up maximum points would astir apt unafraid their spot.

Stormers, who are distant to Racing 92, volition astir apt suffice if they prime up maximum points. Racing 92 themselves request to triumph and trust connected results elsewhere.

Sale volition astir apt request a bonus-point triumph implicit Toulon - and adjacent then, volition request different results to spell for them.