And there is a strong possibility Wasps could move the November 10 showdown from Adams Park to Twickenham.

Wasps can now start negotiations with the Rugby Football Union after European Rugby Cup Limited announced the pool stage fixture schedule.

Speaking earlier this month, Wasps' new chief executive officer Tony Copsey indicated Twickenham would be looked at as a possible venue for the Munster clash.

Copsey said: "We have to look at taking Munster to Twickenham. If we can do a deal with the RFU, then it is very likely to happen."

The Pool Five encounter is scheduled for a 5.30pm kick-off and dominates the opening weekend's fixtures, which also sees Guinness Premiership champions Leicester visiting Leinster and French champions Stade Francais hosting Harlequins.

Gloucester are the first English club in action - away to Ulster on November 8 - while Bristol will open up against Arms Park hosts Cardiff Blues on November 11.

Life, meanwhile, will not get any easier for Wasps, who visit Llanelli Scarlets on November 17, then tackle Clermont Auvergne in back-to-back fixtures during December.

Wasps' return appointment with Munster is on the final weekend of pool games - January 18/19/20.

2007/08 Heineken Cup Pool Fixtures (first four rounds)

November 9 - Perpignan v Newport Gwent Dragons, Ulster v Gloucester.
November 10 - London Irish v Treviso, Ospreys v Bourgoin, Stade Francais v Harlequins, Viadana v Biarritz, Wasps v Munster, Edinburgh v Toulouse, Leinster v Leicester.
November 11 - Cardiff Blues v Bristol, Saracens v Glasgow, Clermont Auvergne v Llanelli Scarlets.
November 16 - Gloucester v Ospreys, Bourgoin v Ulster, Glasgow v Viadana.
November 17 - Newport Gwent Dragons v London Irish, Treviso v Perpignan, Harlequins v Cardiff Blues, Biarritz v Saracens, Llanelli Scarlets v Wasps, Leicester v Edinburgh.
November 18 - Bristol v Stade Francais, Munster v Clermont Auvergne, Toulouse v Leinster.
December 7 - Ospreys v Ulster, Bourgoin v Gloucester, Leinster v Edinburgh.
December 8 - Treviso v Newport Gwent Dragons, Harlequins v Bristol, Saracens v Viadana, Clermont Auvergne v Wasps, Llanelli Scarlets v Munster, Leicester v Toulouse.
December 9 - London Irish v Perpignan, Stade Francais v Cardiff Blues, Glasgow v Biarritz.
December 14 - Ulster v Ospreys, Biarritz v Glasgow.
December 15 - Newport Gwent Dragons v Treviso, Perpignan v London Irish, Gloucester v Bourgoin, Cardiff Blues v Stade Francais, Viadana v Saracens, Wasps v Clermont Auvergne, Edinburgh v Leinster.
December 16 - Bristol v Harlequins, Munster v Llanelli Scarlets, Toulouse v Leicester.