The prospect of Munster's European Cup quarter-final with Biarritz taking place in San Sebastian remains very much alive.

French League president Serge Blanco will meet the mayor of the Spanish city on Friday to further explore the possibility of the game being held in Real Sociedad's ground, the 32,082-capacity Estadio Anoeta, rather than Biarritz's own Parc des Sports Aguilera, with its 12,667 capacity.

Much has been made of Real Sociedad having a Primera Liga match on the same day, Sunday, April 3rd, at home to Osasuna, but the Estadio Anoeta is a municipal-owned ground, and therefore the mayor's views would have quite a bearing. The ERC chairman Jean-Pierre Lux is keen for a decision by next week.

Pending agreement between the two parties, the switch to their fellow Basque neighbours would still require approval from Spanish television and the French Federation, as well as overcoming several logistical difficulties in moving the game into another jurisdiction, but the Biarritz outhalf Julien Peyrelongue for one believes it will happen.

"I think we will play it in San Sebastian. The president (Marcel Martin) wants to play it in San Sebastian because Munster have a lot of support and our stadium in Biarritz is too small. The players don't want this," admitted Peyrelongue, echoing team-mates such as Imanol Harinordoquy.

"We would prefer to play in our own city, in our stadium, in front of our own supporters," added Peyrelongue, reflecting on three previous quarter-finals which were all away, and included defeats to Munster, four years ago, and Leinster two seasons ago.

- Gerry Thornley