European Champions Cup preview: Exeter host Bath in all-English affair, Saracens will be up against in Bordeaux without Owen Farrell... and can Stormers end La Rochelle's bid for a third consecutive crown?

European knock-out rugby returns this weekend as six English clubs compete in the last-16 of the Investec Champions Cup looking for a place in the quarter-finals. 

With five of the ties repeats of matches which took place in the pool stages, there has been criticism of the lack of fixture variety. 

Here, Mail Sport’s William Rogers takes a look at Saturday and Sunday’s upcoming action…

BULLS v LYON - Saturday, 12.30pm Loftus Versfeld Stadium

TV: TNT Sports 2

The Bulls are looking to avenge their 29-28 defeat to Lyon in this season’s group stage. A late Thibaut Regard try gave the French side victory that dat but they must now travel to South Africa. The Bulls suffered a heavy defeat against Leinster last weekend which ended their six-match winning run. 

Lyon are languishing in 12th place in the French TOP14. The Bulls have an electric back-line with Springbok internationals Willie le Roux, Canan Moodie and Kurt-Lee Arendse capable of causing carnage.

Prediction: Home win

EXETER v BATH - Saturday, 3pm Sandy Park

TV: TNT Sports 2

Both sides come into this game in poor form, with one win in their last four games each. Exeter have won 16 of the last 20 head-to-head matches between the sides but fell to a 41-24 defeat in December. Watch out for the battle at outside centre between England midfield colleagues Henry Slade and Ollie Lawrence. These two sides know each other well but meet in Europe’s top club competition for the first time.

Prediction: Home win

STORMERS v LA ROCHELLE - Saturday, 3pm DHL Stadium

TV: TNT Sports 4

La Rochelle look to continue their march towards a European treble on the southern tip of Africa. South African giants Stormers claimed a 21-20 victory in the group stage and have won back-to-back games in the United Rugby Championship. La Rochelle have not been the force of the previous years this season and sit in fifth in the TOP14. Will we see their brilliant European run end in Cape Town? It looks likely.

Prediction: Home win

BORDEAUX v SARACENS - Saturday, 5.30pm Stade Chaban-Delmas

TV: TNT Sports 2

As much as Saracens’ Champions Cup experience should count in their favour, it is impossible to look past the star-studded backline of Europe’s form side and the absence of Owen Farrell is a huge blow for the English champions. 

The two teams met in the group stage and Bordeaux came out with a crushing 55-15 victory thanks to two tries each from French international wingers Damian Penaud and Louis Bielle-Biarrey. 

Farrell misses out due to a hamstring injury leaving veteran Alex Goode to step in at No 10. Farrell, the Racing 92-bound former England captain, could now have played his final European game for his boyhood club. Maro Itoje is back from a knee injury but the English champions will be up against it.

Prediction: Home win

LEINSTER v LEICESTER - Saturday, 8pm Aviva Stadium

TV: TNT Sports 2

Another group stage repeat sees Leinster, who have not lost since New Years’ Day, face a Leicester side who have nothing to lose in Dublin. The game finished 27-10 to the Irishmen in Leicester and Leinster are close to fully loaded with Robbie Henshaw and Hugo Keenan both starting. 

Leinster have won nine of the previous 14 meetings between two of the most storied clubs in European rugby. Freddie Steward is on the wing for Leicester with Jamie Shillcock at No 15.

Prediction: Home win

NORTHAMPTON v MUNSTER - Sunday, 12:30pm Franklin’s Gardens

TV: TNT Sports 1

A repeat of the 2000 final sees Premiership leaders Northampton host a Munster side who scraped through the group stages. The Saints have won 11 of their last 12 games in all competitions and have not lost at home since October. 

The game will see a battle between two of the game’s young superstar fly-halves, as Fin Smith faces off with Jack Crowley. England scrum-half Alex Mitchell is back from injury but fit enough only for the Northampton bench. The group stage game finished 26-23 to Northampton in terrible conditions at Thomond Park.

Prediction: Home win

TOULOUSE v RACING 92 - Sunday, 3pm Stade Ernest Wallon

TV: TNT Sports 1

Antoine Dupont returns for a star-studded Toulouse side who are looking to move towards a record-extending sixth Champions Cup. France fly-half Romain Ntamack makes his first start since returning from long-term injury alongside Dupont. 

Toulouse face a Racing side that sits just one place below them in the TOP14. Racing’s star scrum half, Nolann Le Garrec, will miss a battle with Dupont due to a concussion. Toulouse were victorious 27-20 over Racing in the league in January and have a fierce home record at the Stade Ernest Wallon.

Prediction: Home win