The European Rugby Champions Cup semifinals takes place this weekend.

On Saturday, Clermont Auvergne host Saracens at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Étienne at 16:15 French Time (15:15 BST, 14:15 GMT).

On Sunday, Toulon host Leinster at Stade Felix-Mayol, Toulon at 16:15 French Time (15:15 BST, 14:15 GMT).

Clemont Auvergne vs Saracens:

Saracens knocked Clermont Auvergne for 6 at the European Cup semifinal stage last season, will it be repeat or redemption this time around?

The 46 / 6 triumph booked McCall’s men a place in last seasons’ Millennium Stadium finale against Toulon. They set new semifinal records for the most points scored by a team (46), the largest winning margin (40) and the most tries scored (6). Surely lightning cannot strike twice between the Pool 1 rivals, who each scored a victory over each other in the early Rounds.

Saracens have their defensive leader, Brad Barritt, back in the side after a knee injury kept him out of action for a month. England playmaker Owen Farrell crossed for 1 of Saracens’ 6 tries last year and is set to make an impact off the bench after he was sidelined for 3 months in the last meeting between the pair.

Clermont Head Coach Franck Azema is sweating on the fitness of halfback duo Morgan Parra and Camille Lopez, who both limped out of France’s Six Nations campaign. Back row brute Fritz Lee and prop Thomas Domingo face a race against time for Saturday’s crunch test, but Azema revealed the chances of them featuring are slim.

The prize for the pair of European heavyweights is a place in the Twickenham final against reigning champions Toulon or Leinster, who meet at Marseille’s Stade Velodrome on Sunday.

Saracens Director of Rugby McCall is expecting a titanic clash.

“Our experience says that in games as big as this, you need your warriors. We’re going to try and make life very difficult for them and put them under pressure in certain areas,” McCall said.

“As a club, we admire Clermont as much as anybody because they keep coming back for more.

“We always say we want to give ourselves a chance in every competition, and they do that year in year out and respond to set-backs extremely well.

“There is a different dynamic this year to the Vern Cotter team. Azema has added something a little bit different in attack and they are much more robust in defence, they are a very good team.”

Clermont back row Julien Bonnaire said: “It’s now or never. I would like the colours of Clermont to hang from the trophy this season and win it with my friends.

“The more we advance in a career the less opportunities there are. Against Northampton (35 / 7), it was my last European quarterfinal in Clermont. This will definitely be my last semifinal, moreover in Saint-Etienne.

“I want to give everything to have no regrets in the end.”

Recent results:

• 2015: Clermont won 18 / 6 at Allianz Park
• 2014: Saracens won 30 / 23 at Stade Marcel-Michelin
• 2014: Saracens won 46 / 6 at Stade Marcel-Michelin

Prediction:

It is by no means easy to cross the English Channel to take on a French club, especially at a packed Stade Geoffrory-Guichard full of hostile French fans, however Saracens disposed of a star-studded Parisian outfit just 2 weeks ago in France. Saracens are welcoming back the return of 2 key players, Brad Barrett and Owen Farrell, but will that be enough to see off the ever-determined Clermont who have come so close but yet so far, reaching the previous 4 semifinals in the European Cup. Clermont are running hot at the moment, having won their last 6 games in a row in the tournament  and made easy work of Northampton Saints in the quarterfinals. They also won 6 on the bounce last season before losing to Saracens in the semifinal. Will history repeat itself? No… Clermont by 3.

• Date: Saturday 18 April
• Venue: Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Étienne
• Kick-Off: 16:15 French Time (15:15 BST, 14:15 GMT)
• Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
• Assistant Referees: Leighton Hodges (Wales), Dudley Phillips (Ireland)
• TMO: Simon McDowell (Ireland)

RC Toulon vs Leinster:

Leinster head coach Matt O’Connor admits his side will have to be at their best if they are to upset reigning European Cup holders RC Toulon in Marseille.

The French side are seeking to be crowned kings of European club rugby for an unprecedented 3rd-straight season having won the last 2 finals in Dublin and Cardiff.

Leinster are chasing a 4th title, which would move them level with Toulouse as the most successful side in the history of continental club competition.

But O’Connor knows his squad need to improve on their recent form in the Pro12, in which they are without a win in their last 4 fixtures.

“The fact is we have got to go there and perform very close to our potential to beat Toulon. The lads understand that,” said O’Connor.

“It is a huge challenge for us, they have world class blokes in every position. We need to come up with a plan to go there and get a result.”

Leinster have shown themselves more than capable of overcoming the odds by winning knock-out games on the road in France, picking up a semifinal win at Clermont Auvergne in 2012 and a famous quarterfinal triumph against Toulouse in 2006.

But they were on the wrong end of the scoreline when they last faced Toulon at the quarterfinal stage 12 months ago, losing 15 / 21 at Stade Felix-Mayol.

“We are massively excited to be going down to play a semifinal. Everyone outside and supporters might be frustrated we are not fulfilling our potential, but it is a difficult thing to do sometimes,” said fullback Rob Kearney.

“We do a huge amount of review work on games. We are unbelievably critical of ourselves and are pin-pointing the things we need to improve on.

“We are not oblivious to the fact there is still a huge amount of things we need to improve on, but we are still very excited by the opportunities available to us.”

Toulon, meanwhile, warmed up for the last 4 clash with a Top 14 victory over Grenoble, although fullback Leigh Halfpenny picked up a shoulder injury which has made him a doubt for this Sunday’s game.

But loose forward Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe believes the French champions are well set, saying: “Even though we were under pressure against Grenoble, we remained united and that’s the most important thing.

“Everything was there within the side, there was real spirit and commitment and it’s nice to enjoy that sort of dynamic when you are building up for an important semifinal.”

Previous result:

• 2014: Toulon won 21 / 15 at Stade Felix-Mayol

Prediction:

It is never going to be an easy task against the reining champions, especially when it comes to Toulon in the European Cup. The French side seems to find another gear for the continental championship. Meanwhile Leinster have not been on top form themselves, struggling to beat Bath in the quarterfinal and flailing in the Pro12. It will come as a shock to many if Leinster overcome the French Giants, but in saying that, it should still be a competitive game.

• Date: Sunday 19 April
• Venue: Stade Felix-Mayol, Toulon
• Kick-Off: 16:15 French Time (15:15 BST, 14:15 GMT)
• Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
• Assistant Referees: Nigel Owens (Wales), Greg Garner (England)
• TMO: Graham Hughes (England)