The Top 14 returns after a five-week break, with a Paris derby between Racing Metro and Stade Francais the pick of the action.
Paris derby highlights action as weather threatens fixtures
The Top 14 returns this weekend after a five-week break, with a Paris derby between Racing Metro and Stade Francais the pick of the action.
French supporters will be keen to focus on club rugby again following their country's forgetful Test series in November.
The snowy capital will host the mouth-watering derby on Saturday before league leaders Toulouse travel north to face Clermont Auvergne later in the day, although the latter clash is being threatened by weather.
There is also a vital game taking place at Stade Amedee Domenech when Brive host fellow strugglers Agen.
But the action starts on Friday as
Montpellier, who are in second place in the table going into week 13, face a daunting trip to
Toulon.
Fifth is set to take on second at the Stade Mayol, where Toulon will welcome back Argentina international Felipe Contepomi, who only takes a spot on the bench as Jonny Wilkinson and Mafileo Kefu fill the 10-12 slot.
In the front row, coach Philippe Saint-André, who signed a new contract this week, has gone for Laurent Emmanuelli, Sébastien Bruno and Carl Hayman while Joe van Niekerk leads from eight in a back-row that includes former Australia great George Smith.
Eager
Montpellier back-rower Fulgence Ouedraogo will be eager to put in a strong performance after his in-and-out spell with the France squad during November.
Timoci Nagusa and Francois Trinh-Duc are unavailable for the visitors due to international and injury reasons respectively. Benjamin Thiéry returns to action.
Brive will hope to erase the memories of their hammering by Montpellier a month ago when they entertain
Agen on Saturday.
However, the visitors - who are just one place of the bottom of the table - on Saturday could be a hidden danger as they defeated Racing Metro last time out.
All eyes in Paris will be on the Stade Yves Du Manoir as ninth-placed
Stade Francais make the short trip to third-placed
Racing Metro.
Racing boss Pierre Berbizier has been boosted by the return of international stars Sebastien Chabal, Mirco Bergamasco, Benjamin Fall and Frans Steyn while Pumas stand-off Juan Martin Hernandez is also features in the 25-man squad.
However, Racing will still have to do without experienced second-row forward Lionel Nallet for the meeting.
Weather
Travelling conditions could decide whether the match between
Bayonne and
La Rochelle at the Stade Jean Dauger goes ahead.
Almost 300km separates the two sides, with the latter struggling to train outside this week after 20cm of snow fell overnight.
If the game is given the green light, the hosts will be hoping to move level on points with Perpignan and Stade Francais in eighth position, should the bigger-named duo slip up.
One contest that has definitely fallen foul of the recent cold weather and snow is
Bourgoin's match with
Biarritz at the Stade Pierre Rajon.
Perpignan will be boosted by the return of Olivier Olibeau, Rimas Alvarez-Kairélis, Grégory Corvec, Henry Tuilagi, Kevin Boulogne, Farid Sid, Charles Geli and Maxime Mermoz for the trip to
Castres.
The Catalan outfit will be eager for a victory whilst also depriving Castres of any points, which would allow them to move above their hosts in the table.
The final match of the weekend, between table-toppers
Toulouse and
Clermont Auvergne, looks unlikely to go ahead after temperatures reached 10-below zero at the Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin.
