State of Play Champions Cup: The seven clubs who have secured a place in the knockouts

Seven teams have booked their place in the round of 16 of the Champions Cup, with one round of the pool stages remaining.

Irish Provinces Ulster and Munster have secured their place in the knockouts alongside Premiership clubs Harlequins, Leicester Tigers, and Bristol Bears. Top 14 outfits Racing 92 and La Rochelle are the only French teams that have secured a place in the knockouts.

Mathematically, all the teams in the competition can make the knockout stages, including Ospreys and the Scarlets who are both at the bottom of Pool A and B, respectively, with Ospreys yet to open their account. 

All four Irish sides can make the round of 16, with Leinster and Connacht needing just a single point each to ensure a place among the last 16 clubs. 

Leinster travel to the Rec, where they will face a struggling Bath outfit who fell to a 39-21 loss to La Rochelle. Bath could make the playoffs if they are dealt a few favours but having won just once this season across the Premiership and Champions Cup, beating Leinster looks unlikely.

As for Connacht, they head to the Stade Jean-Bouin to tackle Stade Francais, who fell to a 28-17 defeat against the Bristol Bears. The Parisians are another club who could make the knockouts if they are dealt a few favours and upset Andy Friend's charges. Again this is unlikely.

Harlequins open the weekend's action at home against Castres. The Londoners have secured a place in the knockout stages, but the Famous Quarters will be out to cement their place at the top of Pool B with a bonus point likely to do it.

With three log points, Castres could make the playoffs if other results go their way, and they can overcome the Premiership champions at home.

The defending Champions Cup winners, Toulouse, enter the final round of the pool stages ranked seventh overall after Wasps downed the French side. Toulouse face Cardiff in a match they will view as a must-win. While Toulouse could proceed to the knockouts without a win, Cardiff needs a win if they have any hope of making the playoffs.

On Saturday, there is a massive clash at Welford Road between Leicester Tigers and Bordeaux. Both sides enter the clash in a position that will see them proceed to the playoffs, and a win for the visitors will secure them a place in the round of 16. 

Scarlets would need a minor miracle to make the playoffs of the competition. They would need to claim a bonus-point victory over the Bristol Bears and cut through their -63 point deficit. 

Jono Gibbes returns to the side he coached during the 2017/18 season as Clermont visit the Kingspan to take on Clermont. Gibbes' charges are in with a shot of making the playoffs, and a win over Ulster is likely to do it. 

In the final game on Saturday, Gibbes' most recent former employers, La Rochelle, face Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun Stadium. Glasgow need a victory over Ronan O'Gara's men to have a hope of making the knockout stages.

Alex Sanderson's Sale Sharks also enter the final round of the pool stages with a chance to make the round of 16 as they host Ospreys at the AJ Bell Stadium. A win is likely to do it for Sale Sharks with a losing bonus point paired with a try bonus point possibly sending them through.

Northampton Saints head to Paris, where they take on Pool A leaders Racing 92. The Premiership club has a slim chance of making the playoffs while Racing could secure the top spot with a bonus-point win.

After upsetting Toulouse in round three, the Wasps have put themselves in a place where they can qualify for the last 16. A win over Munster could be enough for Lee Blackett's side, while even in defeat, Wasps could proceed if other results go in their favour.

Remarkably, Montpellier are in with a shot of making the playoffs despite their 89-7 loss to Leinster. If the Top 14 club are able to stun Exeter Chiefs at the Altrad Stadium, they could reach the knockout stages if Glasgow Warriors don't beat La Rochelle. 

However, Exeter Chiefs head into the final round of the pool stages, needing two league points to reach the knockouts.

 A thrilling weekend of rugby awaits as the clubs battle it out for the final 11 places in the knockout stages of the competition.