53 teams will be drawn into 8 groups of 6 and 1 group of 5.
The nine group winners all qualify.
The best 8 runners up from the nine groups will take part in a play off for the four remaining slots meaning 13 teams in total will qualify.
Wales are likely to be drawn from pot 4. England, because of their recent defeats are lilely to be in pot 2 along with Scotland. Both Irish teams are expected to be in pot 3.