Toulon v Wasps: European Rugby Champions Cup preview
Last Updated: 05/04/15 5:25pm
Champions Toulon take on Wasps in the last eight of the European Champions Cup at Stade Félix Mayol on Easter Sunday, live on Sky Sports 2 HD.
Winners in 2013 and 2014, Toulon can move a step closer to a hat-trick of Champions Cup triumphs with victory over 2007 champions Wasps.
The French outfit lead the way in the Top 14 but were on the wrong end of a 34-24 scoreline at home to Toulouse last weekend.
Josua Tuisova ran in two tries during that defeat and keeps his place on the wing, while the much heralded Steffon Armitage gets another opportunity to show an English audience what he is capable of as the World Cup draws ever closer.
Wasps recall James Haskell and Andrea Masi to the side for the first since the Six Nations with Welsh second row Bradley Davies fit again to take his place amongst the forwards.
Christian Wade and Sailosi Tagicakibau are ruled out with hamstring injuries and Nathan Hughes misses out while he awaits the outcome of his disciplinary hearing.
That sees Tom Varndell and Will Helu line up on the wings and Guy Thompson stepping in at number eight.
Wasps lie sixth in the Aviva Premiership table having lost their last two games and face a mammoth challenge to overcome the French table toppers.
Toulon: 15 Delon Armitage, 14 Josua Tuisova, 13 Mathieu Bastareaud, 12 Maxime Mermoz, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Sebastien Tillous-Borde; 1 Alexandre Menini, 2 Guilhem Guirado, 3 Carl Hayman (c), 4 Bakkies Botha, 5 Ali Williams, 6 Mamuka Gorgodze, 7 Steffon Armitage, 8 Chris Masoe.
Replacements: 16 Jean-Charles Orioli, 17 Xavier Chiocci, 18 Levan Chilachava, 19 Juan Fernandez Lobbe, 20 Rudi Wulf, 21 Matt Giteau, 22 Michael Claassens, 23 Jocelino Suta.
Wasps: 15 Rob Miller, 14 William Helu, 13 Elliot Daly, 12 Andrea Masi, 11 Tom Varndell, 10 Alex Lozowski, 9 Joe Simpson; 1 Matt Mullan, 2 Edd Shervington, 3 Lorenzo Cittadini, 4 Bradley Davies, 5 Kearnan Myall, 6 Ashley Johnson, 7 James Haskell (c), 8 Guy Thompson.
Replacements: 16 Carlo Festuccia, 17 Simon McIntyre, 18 Jake Cooper-Woolley, 19 James Gaskell, 20 Thomas Young, 21 Charlie Davies, 22 Andy Goode, 23 Alapati Leiua.
Watch Toulon v Wasps from 2.45pm on Sunday or watch for £6.99 with a Sky Sports Day Pass.