Bourgoin may slow the process a little today, but they're still likely to lose. They've already sacrificed some edge by agreeing to play away from their Stade Pierre Rajon fortress (they have an unblemished record there in the French league), worse again the Stade de Geneve pitch is a little on the small side.

Which means Munster will likely adopt their usual early-game boa constrictor tactics. Take the ball in, get the maul moving and get some points on the board while simultaneously squeezing territory, keeping possession and letting the opposition know that if they fancy making a game of this they better be up for a fight. Our money's on Marcus Horan being the one underneath the pile of bodies.

BACK ROGER FEDERER 2-5 AND KIM CLIJSTERS 5-1 TO WIN THE AUSTRALIA OPEN Odds quoted are from Betfair Oh, how easy seeded draws make it to separate the wheat from the chafe. With apologies to the still-gaining-momentum Martina Hingis, Kim Clijsters and Maria Sharapova will emerge into the semi-finals from the top half of the draw. The other half will likely spill holder Amelie Mauresmo, despite her stuttering displays of late, through to the final, with Jelena Jankovic's superb early season form being the only thing likely to stop the French holder.

Clijsters has already announced that this will be her final season on the tour, and a fairytale exit could well be on the cards if she can get past Sharapova, over whom she has a better head-to-head record. Her usual stumbling block, Justine Henin-Hardenne, is absent and she has been in fine form so far this season, right up to landing the Sydney title last week.

To bulk up your profit, throw in a bet on that Swiss lad (we hear he's quite good) and kick back for two weeks of shouting at the TV.

Where the money was. . .

ARSENAL TO BEAT LIVERPOOL IN THE CARLING CUP QUARTER-FINAL 11-2 (Betfair) Many frolics last Tuesday night in the rescheduled Carling Cup maych at Anfield, not least on the betting exchanges. Arsenal started off at around 9-2 and then came into fours after Rafa Benitex fielded a weakened team. After Robbie Fowler's equaliser, Arsenal drifted to 11-2 before Julio Baptista (right) finally started getting beastly. Five or more goals in the match was backed at 27-1, six or more goals was backed at 68-1, while seven or more made somebody very happy at 219-1.