The first of this weekend’s Heineken Cup quarter final matches sees reigning champions Leinster take on Clermont.

Blue Square make Leinster 4/7 favourites going into the game, and after securing an impressive win on Good Friday at Munster to consolidate their place at the top of the Celtic League, they will fancy their chances of progressing into the semi finals.

Leinster welcome back inspirational skipper Brian O’Driscoll (12/1 with Bet365 to score the first try) for his first appearance since injuring his knee in the 6 Nations.

Even though they may not have as big a reputation as compatriots Toulouse and Stade Francais, Clermont are no mugs and have more than a fighting chance at 15/8 (William Hill).  They currently lie in a handily placed fourth in the French Top 14, two points behind the leaders and in this competition they topped a group containing Leicester and the Ospreys, although they did fail to gain an away win against either thus living up to the theory  that French sides do not perform on their travels.  

Even though flying Fijian winger Napolioni Nalaga is missing for the visitors they can still call on the likes of Aurelien Rougerie and Julien Malzieu on the wings who can both be backed 12/1 (with Stan James and Ladbrokes respectively) to open the scoring.

Knock out stages in cup competitions can sometimes be edgy affairs which boil down to the kickers.  Leinster’s Jonathan Sexton has yet to prove that he can handle the big match kicking duties having come away from the 6 Nations with a success rate of seven kicks from 19 attempts at goal. Sexton also carried this form back into his provincial rugby missing three kickable shots at goal in last week’s single point win at Munster.  Clermont’s South African fly half Brock James is certainly more reliable with the boot and also have French international kicker Morgan Parra to call on.

The kicking duel could well swing the result in favour of the visitors and the 5/2 offered by Bet365 for a Clermont win by 1-12 looks tempting.