article: As eight teams prepare to battle it out for a place in the semi-finals of this season's European Rugby Champions Cup, Sportsmail's Nik Simon gives us a run-down of each of the sides left in the competition. LEINSTER VS BATH . STRENGTHS . Fronted by captain Jamie Heaslip, Leinster are armed with international experience and had 11 players in the Ireland squad who beat England last month. Bath's qualities are channeled through their attack, with Mike Ford giving the likes of England backs George Ford, Jonathan Joseph and Anthony Watson a licence to play with flair. WEAKNESSES . Poor league form has stunted Leinster's season, with the Dublin side currently fifth in the Pro12 competition after winning just one of their last five fixtures. Bath are short of experience in some key positions, particularly their up and coming backline. DANGERMEN . Leinster: Sean O'Brien Bath: Jonathan Joseph . RECORD . Leinster: Champions 2008-09, 2010-11, 2011-12 Bath: Champions 1997-98 . Leinster's Jamie Heaslip is tackled by Wasps' Sailosi Tagicakibau at the RDS Arena in October 2014 . Bath's Jonathan Joseph runs with  the ball during an open training session at the Farleigh House complex . CLERMONT VS NORTHAMPTON . STRENGTHS . The Stade Marcel Michelin is a fortress, with Clermont not having lost a European game in the Massif Central since a 32-15 defeat by Sale in 2008. Saints' Jim Mallinder has one of the most settled groups in the Aviva Premiership, boasting a strong core of squad players who maintain consistently high standards. WEAKNESSES . The Top 14 side were left with a worrying injury list after the Six Nations, with France backs Morgan Parra, Camille Lopez and Wesley Fofana among those missing. Saints try to play on the edge with enforcers such as Dylan Hartley and Calum Clarke, however discipline has previously tipped over the edge in big games. DANGERMEN . Clermont: Napolioni Nalaga Northampton: Courtney Lawes . RECORD . Clermont: Runners-up 2012-13 Northampton: Champions 1999-00, runners-up 2010-11 . Forward Courtney Lawes passes the ball during a training session for Nothampton on Wednesday . Clermont's Fiji winger Napolioni Nalaga charges forward with the ball for Clermont at the Michelin Stadium . RACING METRO VS SARACENS . STRENGTHS . Racing are flush with money, investing heavily in overseas players such as Jonathan Sexton, Jamie Roberts and, as of next season, Dan Carter. As well as their famous 'Wolf Pack' defence, Saracens pride themselves on the set-piece and use the scrum and line-out as dangerous attacking weapons. WEAKNESSES . The nouveau-riche Parisian outfit are inexperienced at knockout European rugby, having never progressed from the group stages before this season. Mark McCall's suffered heartbreak against Toulon last season and must show more mental fortitude to better their defeat in last season's final. DANGERMEN . Racing Metro: Jamie Roberts Saracens: Billy Vunipola . RECORD . Racing: First time in knockout Saracens: Runners-up 2013-14 . Saracens' Billy Vunipola releases the ball during the Aviva Premiership match against Harlequins at Wembley . TOULON VS WASPS . STRENGTHS . Funded by tycoon Mourad Boudjellal, the Cote d'Azur club have invested heavily to create the world's most star-studded squad. Since relocating to Coventry, Wasps have been driven on by the powerful back row of James Haskell, Ashley Johnson and Nathan Hughes, though Hughes is suspended for kneeing George North in the head. WEAKNESSES . Toulon are in danger of having too many players to choose from, depriving some squad members of the chance to build up consistency. Dai Young has the opposite problem at Wasps, who are not blessed with the same depth and could struggle to fill the void left by Hughes' three-week ban. DANGERMEN . Toulon: Mathieu Bastareaud Wasps: Christian Wade . RECORD . Toulon: Champions 2012-13, 2013-14 Wasps: Champions 2003-04, 2006-07 . James Haskell receives a pass during Wasps' open training session at the Twyford Avenue Sports Ground . Christian Wade dives to score a try for Warsps during the Aviva Premiership match against Northampton .
highlights: Eight teams are left to battle for a place in the semi-finals of the European Rugby Champions Cup .
  Sportsmail takes a look at their strengths, weaknesses, key players and record in the competition up until now .
  The quarter-finals will be played over Saturday and Sunday April 4-5 .
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