Preview: Perpignan v Leicester
Perpignan welcome English champions Leicester Tigers to Stade Aimé Giral on Saturday looking to resurrect their season.
Perpignan welcome Premiership champions Leicester Tigers to Stade Aimé Giral on Saturday looking to resurrect their season.
The former French champions have been in poor form in the Top 14 where they lie in lowly tenth place and will be hoping to find their European legs against the Pool Five leaders.
The Catalans are without injured centres Gavin Hume and Maxime Mermoz but welcome back fly-half Nicolas Laharrague and hooker Marius Tincu back into the starting XV.
There is no place for Pumas lock Rimas Alvarez-Kairélis nor Manny Edmonds in the matchday squad while club captain Jean-Pierre Perez starts on the bench.
Meanwhile, the Tigers are once again able to call upon England fly-half Toby Flood, who slots in alongside Ben Youngs in a strong-looking XV.
Geordan Murphy heads an equally impressive back-three trio with Alesana Tuilagi and Scott Hamilton on the wings. Matt Smith pairs up with fellow countryman Anthony Allen at centre.
The teams:
Perpignan: 15 Jérôme Porical, 14 Adrien Plante, 13 David Marty, 12 Joffrey Michel, 11 Julien Candelon, 10 Nicolas Laharrague, 9 David Mele, 8 Damien Chouly, 7 Ovidiu Tonita, 6 Bertrand Guiry, 5 Robins Tchale Watchou, 4 Olivier Olibeau, 3 Nicolas Mas, 2 Marius Tincu, 1 Perry Freshwater.
Replacements: 16 Guilhem Guirado, 17 Jérôme Schuster, 18 Kisi Pulu, 19 Gerrie Britz, 20 Henry Tuilagi, 21 Jean-Pierre Perez, 22 Florian Cazenave, 23 Farid Sid,
Leicester: 15 Geordan Murphy, 14 Scott Hamilton, 13 Matt Smith, 12 Anthony Allen, 11 Alesana Tuilagi, 10 Toby Flood, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Jordan Crane, 7 Craig Newby, 6 Thomas Waldrom, 5 George Skivington, 4 Louis Deacon, 3 Dan Cole, 2 George Chuter, 1 Marcos Ayerza.
Replacements: 16 Rob Hawkins, 17 Pete Bucknall, 18 Martin Castrogiovanni, 19 Ed Slater, 20 Steve Mafi, 21 James Grindal, 22 Jeremy Staunton, 23 Manu Tuilagi.
Date: Saturday, December 11
Venue: Stade Aimé Giral, Perpignan
Kick-off: 14.30 (13.30 GMT)
Referee: Alan Lewis