Top 14 semi-finals: Preview

The race for the Top 14 title hots up as four team slug it out for a place in the final.

Toulouse, Clermont Racing Metro and Montpellier eye glory

The race for the Top 14 title hots up as four team slug it out for a place in the final. Toulouse and Clermont clash on Friday in the first play-off semi-final, with Racing Metro and Montpellier going toe-to-toe on Saturday. The two most exciting teams in France go head-to-head on Friday with Toulouse (62) and Clermont (61) having scored more tries than any other team in the league this season. Clermont have made three changes to their line-up, with George Pisi named at outside centre ahead of Marius Joubert although the Samoan must pass a late fitness test. In the pack, Lionel Faure returns to the starting XV at loosehead while Elvis Vermeulen starts at number eight ahead of Sione Lauaki. Toulouse are sweating over the fitness of record try-scorer Vincent Clerc, who has a rib injury. If the French international is not fit to play, his place will be taken by Rupeni Caucaunibuca. Yannick Jauzion returns to the starting XV to partner Clément Poitrenaud in midfield. Florian Firtz drops to the bench. In the pack, Jean Bouilhou starts ahead of Yannick Nyanga in the loose trio while French international Romain Millo-Chlusky returns from injury in the second row. In the front row, Dan Human starts at loosehead ahead of Jean-Baptiste Poux. More to follow... Toulouse:15 Cédric Heymans, 14 Vincent Clerc (or Rupeni Caucaunibuca) , 13 Yannick Jauzion, 12 Clément Poitrenaud, 11 Maxime Medard, 10 David Skrela, 9 Jean-Marc Doussain, 8 Louis Picamoles , 7 Jean Bouilhou, 6 Thierry Dusautoir, 5 Patricio Albacete, 4 Romain Millo-Chlusky, 3 Census Johnston, 2 William Servat, 1 Daan Human.
Replacements: 16 Virgile Lacombe, 17 Jean-Baptiste Poux, 18 Yoann Maestri, 19 Yannick Nyanga, 20 Nicolas Bezy, 21 Florian Fritz, 22 Rupeni Caucaunibuca (or Vilimoni Delasau, 23 Johnson Falefa Clermont: 15 Anthony Floch 14 Wesley Fofana, 13 George Pisi, 12 Gonzalo Canale, 11 Julien Malzieu, 10 Brock James, 9 Morgan Parra, 8 Elvis Vermeulen, 7 Alexandre Lapandry, 6 Julien Bonnaire, 5 Thibaut Privat, 4 Jamie Cudmore, 3 Martin Scelzo, 2 Mario Ledesma, 1 Lionel Faure.
Replacements: 16 Ti'i Paulo, 17 Vincent Debaty, 18 Julien Pierre, 19 Sione Lauaki, 20 Kevin Senio, 21 Kini Murimurivalu, 22 Marius Joubert, 23 Davit Zirakashvili