Toulouse v Oyonnax: Champions Cup preview

Toulouse centre Gael Fickou runs to score a try in his side's Top 14 clash against Grenoble

Highly-rated French centre Gael Fickou starts for Toulose in their Pool 1 clash against Oyonnax on Saturday.

Team-mate Maxime Medard was full of praise for the midfielder, who this week signed a three-year contract extension with Toulouse.

"He is one of the 10 best centres in the world and soon he will be number one," said Medard.

"He reminds me of Sonny Bill Williams: tall, athletic, technical, with a good hand-off and a feel for the game. He has everything."

Fickou starts alongside Florian Fritz in the centres, while Medard is joined by Timoci Matanavou and full-back Clément Poitrenaud in the back three.

Talalelei Gray, Imanol Harinordoquy and No 8 Louis Picamoles form a formidable loose trio in the forwards, while Jean-Marc Doussain and Luke McAlister pair up in the half-backs.

Ugo Mola's side have a chance to bounce back immediately at Stade Ernest Wallon, and scrum-half Doussain says the side has learned from the away defeat to Saracens in the opening round last weekend.

"We mostly discussed how and why our game at Saracens was not successful," said Doussain. "This loss will bring us back down to earth. 

"Until then, everything went well, we had a good start to the season, it was a bad game. We were not up to par. We had no weapons to fight. But now it's done. 

"This group is rebuilding, you have to bounce back."

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Highlights of Toulouse's opening round defeat to Saracens

Toulouse will be smarting from the heavy defeat to Saracens, while Oyonnax are playing their first Champions Cup match after their first-round game with Ulster was postponed.

Though newcomers to the tournament, they are able to call upon the experience of former Springbok Pedrie Wannenburg, Nicky Robinson - who reached a semi-final with the Cardiff Blues back in 2009 - and All Blacks scrum-half Piri Weepu, who are all on the bench for the encounter.

Regis Lespinas will pull the strings in the No 10 jersey while scrum-half Fabien Cibray captains the side.

Toulouse: 15 Clément Poitrenaud, 14 Maxime Médard, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Florian Fritz, 11 Timoci Matanavou, 10 Luke McAlister, 9 Jean-Marc Doussain; 1 Vasil Kakovin, 2 Christopher Tolofua, 3 Dorian Aldegheri, 4 Yoann Maestri (c), 5 Romain Millo-Chluski, 6 Talalelei Gray, 7 Imanol Harinordoquy, 8 Louis Picamoles.

Replacements: 16 Julien Marchand, 17 Nemiah Tialata, 18 Census Johnston, 19 Joe Tekori, 20 Gregory Lamboley, 21 David Mele, 22 Yann David 23, Arthur Bonneval.

Oyonnax: 15 Florian Denos, 14 Silvere Tian, 13 Vincent Martin, 12 Eamonn Sheridan, 11 Fetu'u Vainikolo, 10 Regis Lespinas, 9 Fabien Cibray (c); 1 Laurent Delboulbès, 2 Jody Jenneker, 3 Antoine Guillamon, 4 George Robson, 5 Leon Power, 6 Pierrick Gunther, 7 Olivier Missoup, 8 Viliami Maafu.

Replacements: 16 Jeremie Maurouard, 17 Soane Tonga'uiha, 18 Marc Clerc, 19 Valentin Ursache, 20 Pedrie Wannenburg, 21 Piri Weepu, 22 Nicky Robinson, 23 Geoffrey Fabbri.