Heineken Cup 2013: Dates, Fixtures, Live Stream Info and Predictions

After a month of November Test action, the world's stars return to club matters this weekend with the Heineken Cup leaving no space for rest in the rugby calendar.

Thus far in the European tournament, Leinster, Toulouse and Ulster have all stood out against the opposition, taking a leading stance in their respective pools. However, the trio face a stern examination of their mettle this weekend.

Read on for a full prediction of how Round Three of the Heineken Cup group campaign will pan out, as well as a preview of its highlight encounters.

Fixture	Date	Stream Info	Time	Prediction
Castres vs. Ospreys	Dec. 6	N/A	8 p.m. GMT/3 p.m. ET	15-10
Cardiff Blues vs. Glasgow Warriors	Dec. 6	SkyGo app	8 p.m. GMT/3 p.m. ET	24-22
Zebre vs. Saracens	Dec. 7	N/A	1:35 p.m. GMT/8:35 a.m. ET	18-30
Exeter Chiefs vs. Toulon	Dec. 7	SkyGo app	1:35 p.m. GMT/8:35 a.m. ET	24-34
Clermont Auvergne vs. Scarlets	Dec. 7	N/A	1:35 p.m. GMT/8:35 a.m. ET	28-20
Racing Metro vs. Harlequins	Dec. 7	SkyGo app	3:40 p.m. GMT/10:40 a.m. ET	27-14
Northampton Saints vs. Leinster	Dec. 7	SkyGo app	6 p.m. GMT/1 p.m. ET	22-18
Ulster vs. Benetton Treviso	Dec. 7	N/A	6 p.m. GMT/1 p.m. ET	34-12
Munster vs. Perpignan	Dec. 8	SkyGo app	12:45 p.m. GMT/7:45 a.m. ET	32-22
Edinburgh vs. Gloucester	Dec. 8	N/A	1 p.m. GMT/8 a.m. ET	22-14
Leicester vs. Montpellier	Dec. 8	SkyGo app	3 p.m. GMT/10 a.m. ET	17-13
Toulouse vs. Connacht	Dec. 8	N/A	3 p.m. GMT/10 a.m. ET	34-11

Northampton Saints vs. Leinster

Leinster have opened up their 2013/14 Heineken Cup campaign with a spotless record, winning their first two games of the European season and climbing to the top of Pool 1.

However, Matt O'Connor's side face what will be the most testing period of their group phase, with back-to-back fixtures scheduled against Jim Mallinder's Northampton Saints.

Speaking ahead of the encounter, per the league's official website, Saints star and Aviva Premiership October Player of the Month Samu Manoa commented on his team's weekend encounter at Franklin's Gardens, saying:

"

We will worry about Leinster when Leinster come. It is massive for the club and for us boys. We were upset about how it turned out last year.

They have got a good squad and we have got a good squad too, so there is going to be a clash.

"

Both clubs are giants in their respective domestic divisions and the fine turf of Northampton has been a tough venue for teams to travel to of late, in a fixture that the home side have no choice but to win if they're to keep their visitors within reach.

Prediction: Northampton Saints 22-18 Leinster

Racing Metro vs. Harlequins

Mike Phillips was announced as Racing Metro's latest signing, per the club's official website this week, handing the Top 14 giants a huge boost heading into their next Heineken Cup outing.

It's very possible that the scrum-half, axed from his Bayonne contract earlier this season, could give his new French employers an immediate boost against Harlequins.

Two bonus points have been Quins' only comfort in what's been a miserable season in Europe so far, and it's unlikely that the term will be turned around at Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir.

Prediction: Racing Metro 27-14 Harlequins

Munster vs. Perpignan

Pool 6 remains an incredibly tight affair this season with just two points separating first-place Perpignan from fourth-place Gloucester.

Munster fall in between those two but can take a controlling stake in the group should they turn the French club over in what will be the first of two fixtures between the two in the space of seven days.

It's another reunion for Lifeimi Mafi, the former Thomond Park fan favourite who now travels back to his old Irish stomping ground, this time with the intent of pursuing Munster's downfall.

However, the ground has been difficult to take points away from this campaign and Peter O'Mahony has led his team to an unbeaten home season so far, which won't be broken up this weekend.

Prediction: Munster 32-22 Perpignan