Top 14: Round Eight preview

Any one of six teams could finish the weekend at the summit of the Top 14 standings - with the pick of the games seeing leaders Racing-Métro host Biarritz.

Coming off a run of three straight wins, Racing are the fourth team to lead the championship in seven rounds.

Just one-point behind the leaders, eye-catching Montpellier are the most likely to challenge for the top spot this weekend as they host minnows La Rochelle.

European champions Toulouse have yet to win on the road this term and face a tough trip to Brive while early-season leaders Bayonne host former champions Perpignan.

After a poor start to the season, Toulon could sneak into the top places with a big win away to struggling Bourgoin on Friday.

Castres face the toughest away game of the weekend as they travel to champions Clermont, who are in desperate need of a positive result.

Elsewhere, Stade Français will try to put a string of disappointments behind them as they visit Agen.

For the first time in 20 years, Racing Metro are the leaders of the French championship - but they need to turn it up a notch as Biarritz visit Paris.

Biarritz have given captain Imanol Harinordoquy and Magnus Lund the weekend off, while Iain Balshaw and Ilikena Bolakoro injured but Jerome Thion returns to the second row and Marcelo Bosch starts at full-back.

BO continue to use star scrum-half Dimitri Yachvili sparingly, as he starts from the bench meaning young Adrien Ayestaran forms the axis pairing with fly-half Julien Peyrelongue.

Contenders

Racing will be without Sébastien Chabal, who is still recovering from a cracked rib. Good news however is that Frans Steyn has reaffirmed his commitment to the club, suggesting he is willing to put his Springbok career on the backburner to give all his energy to the club's cause.

After running rampant in Agen last week, Montpellier will be eyeing the top of the table when they host La Rochelle.

One point behind the leaders, les Montpelliérains continue to surprise. Last weekend's bonus point win on the road was further proof that their inconsistent ways of the past are no longer an issue.

Having already scored wins over heavy hitters like Racing, Perpignan, Toulouse and Castres, Fabien Galthié's team must be considered as serious contenders for a place in the Europe's top competition next season.

La Rochelle, on the other hand, are struggling as most expected. Four straight defeats have left the newcomers on the edge of the relegation zone. But even a losing bonus point this weekend will be very welcome.

Montpol's goal-kicking Argentine wing Martin Bustos-Moyano and centre Geoffrey Doumayrou have both been ruled out with ankle injuries.

La Rochelle full-back Benjamin Dambielle has been given 20-day suspension for a high tackle while co-coach Serge Milhas was slapped with a 40-day touch-line ban for mouthing of to the officials.

With just a single win this season, Bourgoin have endured a disappointing start to the season - and things will not get any easier with the visit of Toulon.

In toppling Clermont, Toulon finally looked like a title-contenders we had expected to see. Their task is now to make up for the lost time and points succeeded in the opening rounds.

Toulon welcome back scrum-half Matt Henjak while wing Paul Sackey has been given a rest.

Bourgoin will have to do without captain Julien Frier, who is still recovering from a torn calf muscle. South African props Albertus Buckle and Ruaan Du Preez are also missing from the team sheet, as is hooker Olivier Milloud.

Struggling champions Clermont have already lost four times this season and are languishing in 10th - but they will look to find their form against Castres.

Morale

Les Tarnais have struggled to deliver consistent performances, though last week's convincing win over Brive was a major boost for morale. If they manage to cut down their error count, they could cause a few problems on Saturday.

Castres have been dealt a double blow in the second row: Matthias Rolland has a cracked eye socket and Kiril Koulemine has a sprained knee, ruling him out of the opening rounds of the Heineken Cup.

Agen know they will have to find their form quickly if they are to avoid relegation although it won't be easy against Stade Français.

Agen do boast the league's top marksman in Conrad Barnard, with the South African fly-half, who has been standing in for the injured Valentin Courrent, having slotted 90 per cent of his kicks at goal.

After losing to Brive by two points at the death a fortnight go, Stade Français went down by a single point in Perpignan last week.

Michael Cheika's team have not been playing badly, but need to buck the trend of disappearing in the second half. If the Parisians are top stay in contact with the other big clubs, victory is nonnegotiable.

Stade have made two changes to their side. Arnaud Marchois replaces Tom Palmer in the second row while Mauro Bergamasco joins the loose trio ahead of Antoine Burban.

Good news for Agen is that loose forwards Opeti Fonua and Ueleni Fono have both recovered from knee injuries. Courrent, lock Andrew Springgay and full-back Brice Dulin are back after missing out last week.

Another team struggling for consistency, Brive are down in 11th place and will have to raise their game if they are to compete with a Toulouse side gearing up for the Heineken Cup.

Winless in their three away games this season, Toulouse have nevertheless been gaining momentum, as confirmed by victory over early pace-setters Bayonne.

Thanks to a bagful of bonus points, Toulouse sit in third place in the standings despite have won the same amount of game as Perpignan, who lie eighth!

Brive shouldn't lack for confidence however having already beaten Perpignan and Toulon at home this season.

Doubtful

Toulouse lock Patricio Albacete is a non-starter while hooker William Servat is doubtful.

Coach Guy Novès has confirmed that Toulouse are negotiating with former All Black Caleb Ralph to come to France as a medical joker for Yann David.

Bayonne will get another chance to highlight their play-off credentials when they face Perpignan.

The Basques lost out to Toulouse last time out and will now attempt to bounce back against the 2009 champions, who have failed to live up to the standards of recent seasons.

Victory over Stade Français last week would have gone a long way to reassure Perpignan they they can still mix it with the top clubs.

The Catalans will be looking for their first win on the road this season, but will be missing a number of senior players including Nicloas Mas and Gerrie Britz. Farid Sid dislocated his shoulder last week and Guilhem Guirado has a fractured sternum, meaning neither will travel. Henry Tuilagi, Kevin Boulogne and Gavin Hume return to the squad however.

France international Lionel Mazars is back in the Bayonne midfield while Benjamin Boyet returns to fly-half after a rest last week. Rob Linde takes over from the injured Ross Filipo in the second row while skipper Rémy Martin is back in the staring loose trio.