Toulon v Montpellier - Heineken Cup match preview

Toulon have rolled out all their big guns in a starting XV that includes a half-back combination of Frederic Michalak and Jonny Wilkinson.

Wilkinson is joined in the line-up by fellow Englishmen Andrew Sheridan and the Armitage brothers, Delon and Steffon.

Wales prop Gethin Jenkins and England lock Simon Shaw are among five internationals included on the bench.

Matt Giteau, Carl Hayman, Bakkies Botha and Chris Masoe all start but club captain Joe van Niekerk and Pumas skipper Juan Fernandez Lobbe do not feature in the match-day 22.

Montpellier welcome back Lucas Amorosino and have Scotland international Johnnie Beattie starting at number eight.

France internationals Fulgence Ouedraogo and François Trhinh-Duc have been rested.

Toulon: 15 Delon Armitage, 14 Vincent Martin, 13 Maxime Mermoz, 12 Matt Giteau, 11 David Smith, 10 Jonny Wilkinson, 9 Frederic Michalak, 8 Chris Masoe, 7 Steffon Armitage, 6 Pierrick Gunther, 5 Jocelino Suta, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Carl Hayman, 2 Sebastien Bruno, 1 Andrew Sheridan
Replacements:16 Mickael Ivaldi, 17 Gethin Jenkins, 18 Virgile Bruni, 19 Mathieu Bastareaud, 20 Benjamin Lapeyre, 21 Sébastien Tillous-Borde, 22 Simon Shaw, 23 Davit Kubriashvili

Montpellier: 15 Lucas Amorosino, 14 Yoan Audrin, 13 Matt Carraro, 12 Paul Bosch, 11 Yohann Artru, 10 Ilian Perraux 9 Julien Tomas, 8 Johnnie Beattie, 7 Rémy Martin, 6 Alexandre Bias, 5 Mickael Demarco, 4 Drickus Hancke, 3 Maximiliano Bustos, 2 Mickael Ladhuie, 1 Yvan Watremez
Replacements: 16 Agustin Creevy, 18 George Jgenti, 19 Aliki Fakate, 20 Mamuka Gorgodze, 21 Benoit Paillaugue, 22 Pierre Bérard, 23 Timoci Nagusa

What they said...

Toulon lock Bakkies Botha

"It's a great challenge for me but also for the team to test ourselves against the best.

"It's the highest of the high in rugby. When you see the level of the Top 14 and only six teams qualify for the European Cup, you quickly understand that this competition is particularly elevated."