Champions Cup: everything you need to know

The Heineken Champions Cup is in full swing with expectations being that this will be the most spectacular edition of what was already the world's most prestigious club tournament.

That expectation exists because in this '22/23 season the European giants will for the first time tournament's history have to square up to the bulk and speed of South African opposition - and as a result - will have to play on African soil in the height of the southern hemisphere's summer.

For the DHL Stormers, the Vodacom Bulls and the Cell C Sharks it will be the chance they've been waiting for forever: to show that they can beat any club or province in the world, and in any conditions.

ROUND 4

Lyon OU v Vodacom Bulls - Friday, 20 January
Kickoff is at 22:00. (SS Rugby - channel 211)

The last weekend of pool action in this year's Champions Cup will all be about playoff seeding for the thre South African teams involved.

The Bulls will have their work cut out for them defensively this week as they travel to France to take on a Lyon side that scored five tries against them at Loftus Versfeld in the opening round back in December.

Lyon, on the other hand, is currently lying 10th in Pool A knowing nothing less than a victory will suffice if they want to make it into the top eight to qualify through to the round of 16.

This late Friday fixture is sure to provide us with plenty of entertainment.

Harlequins v Cell C Sharks - Saturday, 21 January
Kickoff is at 15:00. (SS Rugby - channel 211)

The Cell C Sharks may have already qualified for the playoffs, but a trip to The Stoop to take on a fiery Harlequins side is always quite a prospect.

When the two sides met in their opening round fixture in Durban it was a Makazole Mapimpi masterclass that was the difference between them, with the Springbok winger running in a brace of first-half tries to give the home side the momentum. Former Shark Andre Esterhuyzen also bagged a double that day and the Durbanites will have to keep a close eye on him on Saturday.

Quins are currently 7th on the log and run the risk of not making the playoffs, so there will be no lack of motivation on their part.

DHL Stormers v ASM Clermont - Saturday, 21 January
Kickoff is at 19:30. (SS Rugby - channel 211)

There is a fair chance that Capetonians will have their last see of the DHL Stormers in Cape Town in this competition when they run out against ASM Clermont on Saturday evening.

Clermont has won only one Champions Cup game so far this season, but a points difference of only -12 shows you that they are no pushovers.

The Stormers are currently fourth in their pool, but they can still be overtaken by the four teams below them, so a win is non-negotiable for John Dobson's men.