Heineken Cup match preview: Montpellier looking to book place in the last eight
Montpellier require two points from their final pool game against Toulon to book a place in the quarter-finals.
Last Updated: 19/01/13 3:29pm
A draw or a loss by less than seven points while scoring four tries would be enough to see the home side reach the knockout stages.
In only their second season of Heineken Cup rugby, Montpellier have won their last four Heineken Cup matches with their only defeat in the tournament this season the 16-37 loss in Toulon back in the opening round.
Toulon have already qualified for the last eight, however they travel along the Mediteranen coast looking to secure a home draw in the quarter-finals.
In team news, Montpellier are without injured skipper Fulgence Ouedraogo, but will no doubt be motivated to honour the memory of forwards coach Eric Béchu, who passed away on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Toulon have the luxury of leaving international stars Juan-Martin Fernandez Lobbe, Gethin Jenkins, Mathieu Bastareaud, Carl Hayman and Joe van Niekerk on their bench.
Jonny Wilkinson will captain the side from fly-half, meaning Frédéric Michalak is at scrum-half and Matt Giteau at inside centre.
Montpellier: 15 Pierre Bérard, 14 Timoci Nagusa, 13 Thomas Combezou, 12 Santiago Fernandez, 11 Yoan Audrin, 10 Francois Trinh-Duc, 9 Benoit Paillaugue, 8 Alex Tulou, 7 Johnnie Beattie, 6 Alexandre Bias, 5 Mamuka Gorgodze, 4 Mickael Demarco, 3 Maximiliano Bustos, 2 Agustin Creevy, 1 Mikheil Nariashvili.
Replacements:16 Rassie van Vuuren, 17 Yvan Watremez, 18 Barry Fa'amausili, 19 Aliki Fakate, 20 Thibaut Privat, 21 Kelian Galletier, 22 Eric Escande, 23 Lucas Amorosino.
Toulon:15 Delon Armitage, 14 Rudi Wulf, 13 Maxime Mermoz, 12 Matt Giteau, 11 Alexis Palisson , 10 Jonny Wilkinson (cap), 9 Frédéric Michalak , 8 Chris Masoe, 7 Steffon Armitage, 6 Pierrick Gunther , 5 Jocelino Suta, 4 Simon Shaw , 3 Davit Kubriashvili, 2 Mickaël Ivaldi, 1 Andrew Sheridan.
Replacements: 16 Jean-Charles Orioli, 17 Gethin Jenkins, 18 Carl Hayman, 19 Nick Kennedy, 20 Mathieu Bastareaud, 21 Juan-Martin Fernandez Lobbe, 22 Vincent Martin, 23 Joe van Niekerk.