Scrum of the Earth /

The final round of EDF matches gets underway this weekend and the English sides, as expected, will dominate the semi-final draw.

None of the pools have been decided as yet but the Ospreys, the solitary Welsh side with a hope, only need to prevent Harlequins from maximum points to progress.

With Hook, Henson, Parker et al returning to the starting line-up, even if somehow the Ospreys don’t find 5th gear, which they have achieved in their previous two EDF games, they are going to have to play like Ireland during the World Cup to fail.

Quins are exciting to watch and are quite capable of scoring four tries but the Ospreys mean defence will sniff them out, probably only to the tune of two tries but four would be some achievement.

Saracens are in a similar situation, where only a heavy defeat to the out-of-sorts, Scarlets, at fortress Vicarage Road will see them tumbling out of the competition. The Scarlets have been appalling of late and would need a minor miracle to see off an in-form Sarries.

Pools A & B are nicely poised with Newcastle and London Wasps all set to fight it out at Adams Park for a last-four berth.

After a stuffing there last Sunday, the Falcons can call on the services of three of their superstars. England duo, Toby Flood and Jonny Wilkinson to come into what was a clueless back-line on Sunday. Steve Jones didn’t have the best of days, so the return of Jonny will improve the kicking aspect of things, and surely those Falcons fans making their way down to High Wycombe will have higher hopes. The front five were superb and had the upper hand over the Wasps brutes, but Mr. Scrum, Carl Hayman, has arrived in town and should make his debut.

Simon Shaw and Josh Lewsey will both come back in, and Lawrence Dallaglio could also be back in the no.8 shirt, so it won’t be an easy task. However, if Wilkinson can shut down man of the moment, Danny Cipriani, and Flood & Tait can nullify the threat of Fraser Waters and Riki Flutey and prevent them bursting through those huge gaps on show last weekend, Newcastle could come away with a shock victory.

They’re awful travellers and Wasps are bang in form so expect the Heineken Cup champions to book their spot in the semis with a confident display.

All four teams can still qualify from Pool B but we can’t see Leicester losing at home, even against a Sale side playing great rugby. The Tigers are well polished when it comes to winning game's to reach knock-out stages and expect them to confirm their place for a third successive time. There are many stipulations but Sale need a win, providing Cardiff Blues lose, and should Bath beat the Blues with a bonus point then Sale must get a bonus point to progress. Cardiff must win and Leicester score no points, but it’s not going to happen.

There are great battles all over the pitch, Chabal/White/Lobbe vs. Corry/Moody/Croft on the back-row will be a belter, McAllister aims to run down Hipkiss, while Varndell taking on Cueto warms the blood for what will be a chilly night at Welford Road.

Expect the semi-finalists to be Ospreys, Saracens, Leicester and Wasps.