The EuroLeague Women quarter-finals tip off next week with eight teams bidding for the crown which Gambrinus Brno claimed in 2006.

Two Russian, one French, one Czech, one Hungarian, one Spanish, one Turkish and one Lithuanian club are all aiming to reach the Final Four.

Rather than give you my own insight, I will leave it to the experts this week as three players and one coach give us their thoughts on the four match-ups.

Spartak Moscow vs Gambrinus Brno - As seen by CSKA Samara's Ann Wauters

"A real first test for Spartak"

The CSKA Samara center has played (and beaten) Spartak three times in the Russian championship this year. She also won the 2005 EuroLeague Women with Samara against Brno, and lost in 2006 against....Brno.

		Diana Taurasi torched CSKA for 29 points in the Russian league

"This is going to be a real first test for Spartak Moscow. I know both teams well. We played three times this season against Spartak, and we beat them. But in Russia, you have to play with at least two Russian player on the court at the same time. In the EuroLeague, it’s not the same, and the team is very different.

Until now, Spartak has not faced a very big team. It won’t be easy against Brno who are so experienced. Spartak has a lot of talent. Against us, Taurasi scored 29 points. There’s no way to stop her when she’s hot. Tina Thompson is also very strong inside, and I think that if the team plays together, it will be hard to beat them. But until now, they had problems finding a team game.

I’m also familiar with Brno. I was surprised by their defeat against Prague. I don’t know the status on Sofia Young, who I believe was injured, but it’s still a wonderful team and Deanna Nolan is one of the best athletes in the world. It’s difficult to play in their arena, and I won’t be surprised if this big quarter final needs a third game. Perhaps for us it would be better if Moscow qualifies."

CSKA Samara vs Euroleasing Sopron - As seen by Spartak Moscow's Agnieska Bibrzycka

"2-0 for Samara"

The Polish player from Moscow has played against Samara three times this season in the Russian League, and finished first in Sopron’s group during the first round of the EuroLeague Women.

"Samara might have some problems, but I think they’ll win 2-0. Sopron is quite a good team, and don’t forget that we were 12 points behind them on their court after the first period. It’s a physical team, which can play a great defense. And they never give up. They don’t have a real star among them, their star is the team, which has played together for many years.

But Samara is definitely very strong. If they play physically in Sopron, if they are agressive on the boards, they’ll overcome the Hungarians. They can use Stepanova, whereas Sopron doesn’t have very tall post players. So I think Samara will qualifiy for Final Four. They beat us in the Russian league, because they have the best Russian players, but I think we’ll beat them in the EuroLeague."

Fenerbahce vs Ros Casares Valencia - As seen by USVO Head coach Laurent Buffard

"How to control Pondexter"

The USVO Head Coach was in Group C with both the Turkish and the Spanish teams (Fenerbahce won both games, 71-66 and 68-71). He won EuroLeague titles in 2002 and 2004 and finished second in 2001 and 2003.

		Are Dydek and Co too old for the Fener challenge?

"Advantage Fenerbahce. It’s a well balanced team, hard to play at home. And they have an exceptional player in Cappie Pondexter. Perhaps Valencia, despite having Margo Dydek, DeLisha Milton-Jones and Erika De Souza, is not so strong collectively. Fener has a good group with a rotation that goes seven or eight players deep and big leaders like Linda Frölich, Tammy Sutton-Brown. And they can fight. They beat us at home after three overtimes.

A key point for Valencia will be to how control Pondexter. But I don’t see how. She’s so strong, and can do so many things. She’s a three-point shooter, can play one-on-one, dish assists, rebound.

The Spanish team might also be a bit old, especially for games where the physical intensity will be very high. Will they be hungry enough to go to the Final Four, beat Fener once or twice in Turkey? The gym is not so big, but the atmosphere is hot."

Bourges vs TEO Vilnius - As seen by USO Mondeville's Caroline Aubert

"Bourges is a very complete team"

The USO Mondeville point guard was eliminated from the EuroLeague by Bourges in the eighth-finals, and suffered two defeats to TEO Vilnius in the first round of the competition. She leads the EuroLeaugue in assists at 6 apg and has been selected for the EuroLeague Women All Star Game in Valencia on March 8th, 2007.

"If Bourges plays the same way they did against us, they’ll do it in two games. Vilnius doesn’t like defensive teams, that's the way we put them in trouble during our games. When Bourges defend hard, they really prevent you from playing. It’s a very complete team.

Vilnius didn’t impress me during the first round. Things might be a bit different now. Katie Douglas was just coming back after an injury and she was not in her best shape. They also took Milica Dabovic to run the point and she can bring them something. Before she arrived Sandra Valuzyte had to play as a point-guard, which is not her favorite position.

This team has a good starting five, with some players like Douglas and Ausra Bimbaite who can catch fire, and of course Jurgita Streimikyte inside. I know they beat Salamanca in the eighth-finals and that Salamanca caused Bourges some problems (Editor's note: Bourges beat Salamanca twice in the first round, 74-58 and 65-62).

But the advantage is with Bourges, who would play a third game at home if necessary."