Check out the state of play in Pool 1 at the half-way stage of the 2013/14 Heineken Cup Pool stage. The return legs of the back-to-back fixtures in round 4 are played this weekend, but who will qualify for the quarter-finals.

POOL 4

Harlequins stormed back into contention for quarter-final qualification in Pool 4 with a stunning success at Racing Metro 92 on Saturday afternoon. Having lost their opening two fixtures at home to the Scarlets and away in ASM Clermont Auvergne, Quins were staring down the barrel of an early European exit ahead of their trip to the Stade de la Beaujoire.

Things are very different now, though, with Racing Metro 92 having to head to the Twickenham Stoop locking their wounds after conceding four tries in Nantes. The five points allowed Quins to jump from fourth to second in the standings.

“This win has got us back into the race for qualification and we are still alive in the Heineken Cup. But this was only half the battle, if we do the job next week, we can still believe in January,” said director of rugby Conor O’Shea.

“Next week will be a tough match because Racing are still a great team and they are probably going to wake up after this. But I am very proud of my players for their performance and attitude. We played well, we kept the ball for long periods and we played with plenty of pace.”

History remains stacked against Harlequins, however, given that no side has ever lost their first two games in the competition and made it through to the last eight and after their last-gasp bonus point victory over the Scarlets last weekend, Clermont are now in the box seat as they sit three points clear of Quins and four above both the Scarlets and Racing.

The Scarlets haven’t reached Heineken Cup quarter-finals in seven seasons and only a home win over Clermont in Round 4 will give them any chance of altering that record.

Check out the state of play in Pool 1 at the half-way stage of the 2013/14 Heineken Cup Pool stage. The return legs of the back-to-back fixtures in round 4 are played this weekend, but who will qualify for the quarter-finals.