Tigers ready for Treviso

Leicester have struggled to find their best form in the Guinness Premiership but top Pool Three in the Heineken Cup, level on 15 points with Ospreys. The Tigers look on course for a comfortable victory over the Italian side Treviso today before a final pool meeting away to the Ospreys the following weekend. For the Leicester centre Aaron Mauger the club's next two games hold the key to their season.

"We'd like to be higher in the Premiership but now our focus has to be on the Cup," he said. "We need a good win this weekend and then we've got to cause a stir at the Ospreys. It's difficult but they will define our season." The Ospreys, who welcome back Gavin Henson from a shoulder injury, have a tougher match today away to the French side Perpignan, who remain a formidable threat despite their fly-half Dan Carter missing with an Achilles problem.

Other leading games from the penultimate round of pool matches in the tournament include the battle for the top spot in Pool Two where Leinster on 15 points lead Wasps by three ahead of their match at Twickenham. Leinster thrashed Wasps 41-11 in their meeting earlier this season in Dublin but the Leinster coach Michael Chelka said he expected a far tougher match in London today despite the boost of playing at Twickenham.

"A lot of our guys have had some good moments at Twickenham at international level but this weekend it's all about the final product that we produce on the day," Chelka said. Harlequins will book their passage into the knock-out stages should they win away to Ulster, which would maintain their 100 per cent record in this year's tournament. [e-mail]