England's new-boy Owen Farrell kept his nerve to kick Saracens to a 20-16 victory over Biarritz and to the brink of a place in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals.
Farrell showed just the kind of composure that has seen him earmarked for Test honours since the age of 14 to land his fifth penalty three minutes from time to seal the win.
Saracens had led 14-6 at the interval courtesy of a try from halfback Ben Spencer and Farrell's first three penalties before Biarritz came back at them in the second half.
Dimitri Yachvili scored all of the points for Biarritz, including a charge-down try, as the French visitors pushed Saracens to the wire and earn a losing bonus point.
But Saracens now need only gain a single point against Treviso next weekend to confirm their place in the last eight.
Defending champions Leinster marched through to the knockout stages with a 23-16 victory over Glasgow Warriors at Firhill.
Since the opening draw with Montpellier, Leinster have now won four straight games and host the French side in Dublin next Saturday safe in the knowledge that they cannot be overhauled at the top of Pool Three, with their place in the quarter-finals secure.
Rob Kearney and Isaac Boss scored second-half tries as Leinster finally overcame the Warriors' stern defence, while Jonathan Sexton kicked one penalty and Fergus McFadden two penalties and two conversions.
Flanker Sean O'Brien was sin-binned four minutes from time, but the visitors' defence held firm to seal their progress.
Meanwhile in the Amlin Challenge Cup, Newcastle Falcons proved there is life after Alan Tait with a thumping 43-0 victory over Italians Petrarca to keep themselves in the mix for an Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final place this season.
Tait quit as coach of the Premiership side earlier this week to be replaced by the high-profile pair of Gary Gold, the former South Africa assistant coach, and Mike Ford, the former England defence coach.
The English side only had a try by fullback Tom Catterick, who latched onto a chip by Luke Fielden, to show for their first-half efforts and were only 7-0 ahead at the break against the Italian part-timers.
Centre James Fitzpatrick scored the home side's second try after the break to double their lead before first five-eighths Joel Hodgson's impressive support play saw him cross under the posts to make it 21-0.
Wing Ryan Shortland crossed for the Falcons' bonus-point try before halfback Jordi Pasqualin, prop Ashley Wells and Shortland again crossed to secure a vital home win.