Top 14 Preview: Round 10
The Top 14 returns this week as the competition hits Round 10 with some big games taking place, starting with Clermont versus leaders Lyon.
Lyon had their lead at the summit cut by La Rochelle in the previous round two weeks ago and will be looking to respond at Marcel Michelin.
Elsewhere there's intriguing games between Castres and La Rochelle at Stade Pierre-Fabre and Montpellier and Toulouse at Altrad Stadium on Saturday before Sunday's two fixtures see Stade Français host Oyonnax and Toulon facing Racing 92 at Stade Mayol in the round's final game.
Saturday
Clermont Auvergne vs Lyon
Bordeaux-Bègles vs Agen
Castres vs La Rochelle
Montpellier vs Toulouse
Pau vs Brive
Sunday
Stade Français vs Oyonnax
Toulon vs Racing 92
Clermont Auvergne vs Lyon
Stade Marcel-Michelin
The opening game of Round 10 is a mouth-watering one as first takes on 10th in the standings. Few would have bet Lyon would be the former.
Despite their narrow 19-15 loss to La Rochelle last time out, they remain top with seven wins from nine, but Montpellier, La Rochelle and Toulouse are now breathing down their neck. Lyon haven't lost players to Test duty which should give them decent confidence of a crucial victory.
Clermont are minus their France internationals Rabah Slimani, Paul Jedrasiak, Sébastien Vahaamahina, Judicaël Cancoriet and Damian Penaud.
Last year's result: Clermont won 16-13
Kick-off: 14:45 local (13:45 GMT)
Bordeaux-Bègles vs Agen
Stade Chaban-Delmas
Seventh meets 12th at Stade Chaban-Delmas on Saturday evening but Agen will be no doubt buoyed by their recent shock home win over Toulon.
That result was coming for Agen as they have impressed in recent games and Bordeaux-Bègles will have to be on their game to record victory.
UBB suffered an agonising 38-37 loss at Toulouse in Round 9 and that will have stung, especially as they were 24-3 up early on in the game. A victory on home soil this weekend though would certainly heal that pain and put Bordeaux-Bègles right back into the Top 14 play-off race.
Last year's result: Did not play
Kick-off: 18:00 local (17:00 GMT)
Castres vs La Rochelle
Stade Pierre-Fabre
La Rochelle will be looking for back-to-back away wins in the league when they run out at Stade Pierre-Fabre to face a struggling Castres.
The third-placed visitors are three points behind Lyon at the moment but are without Kini Murimurivalu this week due to Fiji commitments.
Castres meanwhile picked up a much-needed 32-19 win at Oyonnax last time out and are looking for what is only their fifth win of 2017/18.
Last year's result: La Rochelle won 26-18
Kick-off: 18:00 local (17:00 GMT)
Montpellier vs Toulouse
Altrad Stadium
It's a massive game at Altrad Stadium as second hosts fourth in the league, with the hosts looking for a third consecutive Top 14 victory.
Montpol beat Clermont 28-24 last time out while Toulouse edged UBB in that aforementioned thriller so both sides will have their tails up.
However, both teams find themselves without key players. Montpellier enter this big game without talismanic wing Nemani Nadolo and fellow finisher Timoci Nagusa, both on duty for Fiji, while Toulouse are missing in-form France scrum-half Antoine Dupont and wing Yoann Huget.
Last year's result: Montpellier won 27-18
Kick-off: 18:00 local (17:00 GMT)
Pau vs Brive
Stade du Hameau
Pau and Brive will be desperate for points as the former look for a victory that will keep them looking up rather than down in the Top 14 table.
Meanwhile Brive are languishing in second last spot with Agen's win last time out fortunately offset by their own victory over Stade Français. At least that win did lift them off the bottom position but this will be a tough game to make it back-to-back victories as Pau are strong.
Pau lost 23-20 at Racing last time out and will relish returning to their home patch, looking to end a two-match losing run in the league.
Last year's result: Pau won 32-27
Kick-off: 18:00 local (17:00 GMT)
Sunday
Stade Français vs Oyonnax
Stade Jean-Bouin
Sunday's action kicks off with a bottom-of-the-table scrap between Stade Français and Oyonnax in a game Stade Français know they must win.
Defeat to a struggling side in consecutive games would pull them right into a survival fight and be a big hit to their confidence at home.
Oyonnax therefore must silence the Stade Jean-Bouin crowd as they go in search of what will be only their second win of the Top 14 season.
Last year's result: Did not play
Kick-off: 12:30 local (11:30 GMT)
Toulon vs Racing 92
Stade Mayol
Last but by no means least the round will climax at Stade Mayol where fifth meets sixth in what promises to be a closely fought encounter.
As mentioned Toulon embarrassingly lost at Agen while Racing beat Pau last time out, with that their second win on the spin in the league.
Both are fighting to break into the leading bunch in France and with one of Montpellier and Toulouse set to drop points, the door is open.
Last year's result: Toulon won 17-11
Kick-off: 16:50 local (15:50 GMT)