Heineken Cup team-by-team guide

The 24 captains of the competing teams stand with the Heineken Cup in front of Cardiff Castle. Photograph: Getty

TREVISO, Pool 1, Odds 500/1, Paul Rees: “Traditionally the Italian flag-bearers in the Heineken Cup, even if carrying it at half-mast having never got beyond the pool stage, they were hammered by Viadana 33-0 in the league this autumn and failed to supply one player to Italy’s World Cup squad." Photograph: David Rogers/Getty

Richard Parks, NEWPORT-GWENT DRAGONS, Pool 1, Odds 150/1, Paul Rees: “Always difficult to beat at home, as the European champions Wasps found in the EDF Energy Cup last month, but a lack of strength in depth could count against them. Potential quarter-finalists given their group." Photograph: Paul Harding/Action Images

Richard Thorpe, LONDON IRISH, Pool 1, Odds 66/1, Paul Rees: “Lacking the European experience of the other three sides in the pool, they will need to make home advantage count, unlike last season. They have the cutting edge to pick up a couple of away victories." Photograph: Matt Cardy/Getty

Nicolas Durand, PERPIGNAN, Pool 1, Odds 11/1, Paul Rees: “Always struggle on the road as they have already in the French league in the last fortnight, but the boot of Percy Montgomery will help them in what looks, by some way, the weakest of the six pools, lacking a stand-out team." Photograph: Paul Harding/Action Images

Olivier Sourgens, BOURGOIN, Pool 2, Odds 100/1, Paul Rees: “Yet to take the Heineken Cup seriously. Cannot compete with the likes of Toulouse and Stade Francais financially, they have a small squad and concentrate their resources on the French league in which they have won their opening two games. Will end up as fodder." Photograph: Jean-Pierre Clatot/AFP

Mike Prendergrast, GLOUCESTER, Pool 2, Odds 9/1, Paul Rees: “Like Arsenal, they fielded kids last season, got to a final and lost. Naivety cost them in the Heineken Cup. Ravenhill tonight will show whether they are wiser as well as older, but at least Mike Tindall is back to offer experience in the midfield." Photograph: John Gichigi/Getty

James Hook, OSPREYS, Pool 2, Odds 16/1, Paul Rees: “Look the strongest of the Welsh regions by a distance, but the same was said a year ago and they failed to make the last eight. New Zealand’s Marty Holah will give them an extra edge while they bristle with options behind." Photograph: John Gichigi/Getty

Paddy Wallace (r), ULSTER, Pool 2, Odds 100/1, Paul Rees: “Fortress Ravenhill was finally stormed by Llanelli Scarlets last season, but the coldest and warmest of welcomes will await Gloucester tonight. David Humphreys remains in harness at outside-half while Rob Dewey will add thrust to the midfield." Photograph: Bryn Lennon/Getty

Lee Robinson, BRISTOL, Pool 3, Odds 125/1, Paul Rees: “Will the old men in Bristol’s tight five, who were largely rested in last season’s European Challenge Cup, withstand the rigours of a Heineken Cup campaign? Difficult to see them picking up much away." Photograph: Paul Childs/Action Images

Jamie Roberts, CARDIFF BLUES, Pool 3, Odds 66/1, Paul Rees: “Given their dismal showing in Europe this decade, the Blues have done well to land two English clubs who have no track record in the Heineken Cup while Stade’s record in Wales is not impressive. The Blues, though, too often beat themselves." Photograph: Paul Harding/Action Images

Chris Hala'ufia, HARLEQUINS, Pool 3, Odds 125/1, Paul Rees: “Used to draw Cardiff regularly in Europe, losing at home and doing better away. Their record at the Stoop is a prime reason for their failure to make an impact on the Heineken Cup – it is probably the least unwelcoming of grounds." Photograph: Henry Browne/Action Images

Juan Hernandez (c), STADE FRANCAIS, Pool 3, Odds 11/4, Paul Rees: “The group appears to be Stade’s to lose, but they were hammered by Toulouse recently and have an away jersey which has to be the worst in rugby’s history – brown with pink flowers. They should be docked points every time they wear it." Photograph: Paul Childs/Action Images

Benjamin Noirot, BIARRITZ, Pool 4, Odds 11/2, Paul Rees: “Started the league season as they played all last year, scoring in multiples of three. The most uninspiring team on the planet claimed this week that the United States flier Takudzwa Ngwenya had signed. Will he see the ball?" Photograph: Scott Heavey/Action Images

Dan Parks, GLASGOW, Pool 4, Odds 200/1, Paul Rees: “The Warriors have never qualified for the quarter-finals, but they are unbeaten in their last four matches in the Magners League. Coach Sean Lineen wants his side to aspire to be more than underdogs and the draw has been kind to them." Photograph: Phil Cole/Getty

Neil de Kock, SARACENS, Pool 4, Odds 20/1, Paul Rees: “Eddie Jones, fresh from South Africa’s World Cup triumph, will be on board and Sarries find themselves in a group the holders Wasps would adore. Good enough to top the pool, or at least make the last eight as one of the best runners-up." Photograph: Matt Cardy/Getty

Kaine Robertson, VIADANA, Pool 4, Odds 1000/1, Paul Rees: “Stuffed full of Scots and New Zealanders, a team based in a town of just 17,000 inhabitants may do better than finish bottom, but that is as good as it would get. We couldn't even find a photo of them that we could use." Photograph: Getty

Thibault Privat, CLERMONT AUVERGNE, Pool 5, Odds 25/1, Paul Rees: “The recently acquired South Africa centre Marius Joubert is the latest sign of Clermont’s intent. With Fiji’s Vilimoni Delasau on one wing and Aurelien Rougerie on the other, the French club will be the team to beat in the pool." Photograph: Henry Browne/Action Images

Simon Easterby (left), LLANELLI SCARLETS, Pool 5, Odds 33/1, Paul Rees: “Semi-finalists last season, the Scarlets will be hard pressed to make the last eight because of the quality in their pool and a strength in depth which looked suspect at Bristol last month. It will take more than the Stradey Park factor to sustain them." Photograph: Henry Browne/Action Images

James Haskell (left), WASPS, Pool 5, Odds 20/1, Paul Rees: “The holders find themselves locked in a group with a previous winner and two sides with a strong track record in the competition. Away wins will be at a premium, making the decision to take the opening home game against Munster to Coventry a gamble." Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty

Paul O’Connell, MUNSTER, Pool 5, Odds 20/1, Paul Rees: “After winning at Leicester in the opening round a year ago, little has gone right for the then holders who went on to make a tame exit at Stradey Park. Munster looked stale last season, as did Ireland in the World Cup, but they have few new faces to freshen it all up." Photograph: Jason Cairnduff/Action Images

Hugo Southwell, EDINBURGH, Pool 6, Odds 200/1, Paul Rees: “The former England head coach Andy Robinson is still trying to mould into shape a side which was treated like a football earlier in the year, forcing players like Chris Paterson and Simon Taylor into exile. Will do well not to finish last." Photograph: Paul Gilham/Getty

Seru Rabeni (left), Frank Murphy (centre), LEICESTER, Pool 6, Odds 33/1, Paul Rees: “Last season’s beaten finalists are under new management. The Tigers have turned to Marcelo Loffreda, the coach who guided the Pumas to third place in the World Cup last month, but radical change is unlikely with Leicester bearing no little resemblance to Argentina." Photograph: Henry Browne/Action Images

Gordon D’Arcy and Kieran Lewis, LEINSTER, Pool 6, Odds 33/1, Paul Rees: “Their problem in Europe in recent years has been winning enough ball for Brian O’Driscoll and Gordon D’Arcy to exploit. Big Ollie le Roux has arrived from South Africa, at the fag end of his career, while Leo Cullen and Shane Jennings have been recruited from Leicester. Still look light, but know what it takes to win in Toulouse." Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Action Images

Valentin Courrent, TOULOUSE, Pool 6, Odds 8/1, Paul Rees: "After failing to make the quarter-finals last season, Toulouse have targeted the Heineken Cup, but to progress they will probably have to top the pool by getting the better of Leicester over two legs and some of their players, like Fabien Pelous, are on their last legs." Photograph: Lionel Bonaventure/AFP