By Tadhg Peavoy
Munster will host Ulster, while Leinster will host Cardiff Blues in the quarter-final round of the Heineken Cup.
Munster ended the pool stage as top seed, with Leinster finishing as second seed, guaranteeing both provinces home quarter-finals.
Ulster secured the second-best pool runners-up spot and qualified for the quarters as the last seed.
Munster will host their quarter-final at Thomond Park, while Leinster will most likely play their last-eight tie with Cardiff Blues at Aviva Stadium.
Edinburgh host Toulouse, while Saracens host Clermont Auvergne in the other quarter-finals.
The winner of the Munster/Ulster quarter-final has been drawn to have home advantage in the semi-finals against the winner of the Edinburgh v Toulouse quarter.
The winner of the Leinster/Cardiff Blues quarter-final has been drawn to play away to the winner of the Saracens/Clermont Auvergne quarter-final in the last-four stage.
Speaking after the draw was revealed, Leinster coach Joe Schmidt said: “First and foremost we’re delighted to be in the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup and to achieve a home tie, given the group we managed to progress out of, is a fine achievement by the team.
"As events unfolded across Europe over the last few days it was difficult to second guess who we would be playing, but now we know that we’re going to be facing Cardiff Blues in the Aviva Stadium and we know that we’re going to be in for a real battle.
“We’re down to the last eight and we will need to go up another level because Cardiff will travel to Dublin in high spirits after their performances over the group stages.
"We were lucky to get a win in Cardiff City Stadium a few weeks ago and they didn't bring a full strength side when we faced them in the RDS earlier this year, so with a few players to come back into their side they will be formidable opponents.
"Cardiff were in control of the Pool and though they missed out on a home quarter-final, you could see their disappointment. They had a huge win away to Racing-Metro 92 in the Pool stages and to gain 21 points and not win their Pool is extremely unlucky from their point of view.
"Cardiff are a hugely impressive side; well coached with a physical set of forwards up front and a lot of skill and pace out wide and they have been well served by a number of All Blacks in their ranks, who I would personally know well.
"Given our familiarity in the PRO12, we will know to expect a tough game on Easter weekend, but that’s what knockout rugby is all about.
“It is great for our supporters that we will have a chance to play in the Aviva Stadium; a home from home for the province which has served the team well in recent times.
"Our loyal followers, who travel in such large numbers week in, week out, are rewarded with a home tie and, with the larger stadium, this means that we are able to facilitate even more supporters to attend the game.
“If we do manage to win this game that means that we'll maybe travel to either Wembley Stadium or St. Etienne and, to be honest, if we do get to that stage then we'll be delighted. But we're not looking any further past the quarter-final."
HEINEKEN CUP QUARTER-FINALS
(Ties to be played the weekend of 6/7/8 April)
Munster v Ulster
Leinster v Cardiff Blues
Edinburgh v Toulouse
Saracens v Clermont Auvergne
HEINEKEN CUP SEMI-FINALS
(Ties to be played the weekend of 28/29 April)
Saracens/Clermont Auvergne v Leinster/Cardiff Blues
Munster/Ulster v Edinburgh/Toulouse
