Millennium Stadium: hosting draw but not the match

But there could be problems in finding a suitable venue in Wales if Llanelli are drawn at home.

The draw will be covered live by BBC Wales radio and television at 1845GMT on Tuesday.

The west Wales side are joined in the Heineken Cup draw by the French team Castres, Irish province Munster, and the reigning European champions Leicester, who Llanelli famously beat at Stradey Park in a pool game in January.

The teams first and third out of the hat will have the advantage of playing at a neutral venue in their home country.

But if Llanelli are drawn at home there is a problem over where that match will be staged.

Surprise contender

Competition rules state that the matches must be played in grounds with a capacity of at least 20,000.

Cardiff City's Ninian Park is one of the venues being suggested while the Racecourse ground at Wrexham, north Wales, is the surprise contender.

The Scarlets' hopes of playing at the Millennium Stadium look slim because the FA Cup Final is being held there a week after the Heineken Cup semi-finals.

The English Football Association claim this would be too close to their showpiece final, which is being staged in Cardiff while London's Wembley Stadium is redeveloped.

If Llanelli are forced to play in England, then the favourite venue would be Ashton Gate, Bristol, where the 1998 Swalec Cup final between Llanelli and Ebbw Vale took place.

The one thing the Scarlets will not want is an away trip to Castres.

Meanwhile Pontypridd will face English opposition in the Parker Pen Shield semi-finals - either London Irish, Sale or Gloucester, who beat Ebbw Vale in the quarter-finals.

The Heineken Cup and Parker Pen Shield semi-finals will be played on 27 and 28 April.

For live coverage of the draws, see BBC One Wales or listen to BBC Radio Wales (medium wave only) on Tuesday 1845GMT.