The short side: Champions Cup returns, an Ireland centre battle and coaches clash

There are plenty of enthralling encounters to begin the European knockout stages but few more catch the eye than this French-Irish clash.

These two have had their battles over the last couple of years, with Les Rouge et Noir coming out on top each time, but the visitors will think that they can overturn the odds this time around.

For starters, Dan McFarland’s men don’t have the irrepressible Cheslin Kolbe to deal with, who tormented the Irishmen and in particular opposition wing Jacob Stockdale.

Equally, Toulouse are not in the type of form which saw them claim the European and domestic double last year, with some poor results and performances seeing them slip down to fifth in the Top 14. Ugo Mola’s outfit are in danger of missing out on the play-offs having endured a wretched run between early December and late February, but there have been better signs of late.

Victories over Lyon and the top-two in the division, Bordeaux-Begles and Montpellier – all within a month – have lifted spirits, but Ulster will still sense their opportunity to oust the defending champions.

The Irishmen are without the aforementioned Stockdale, who is a long-term absentee, but it has been another good campaign from the Belfast-based side. They are well coached and have already won in France this season following an impressive victory over Clermont Auvergne in the round-robin phase.

The only question is whether Ulster have the top-end quality to defeat a team that have a plethora of Grand Slam-winning France stars in their ranks. The Six Nations has undoubtedly hampered a Toulouse squad which forms the spine of the French side but those players have since returned and will no doubt bolster the four-time champions.

This is another difficult game