Top 14 Preview: Round 26
The final round of the Top 14 regular-season has arrived with the battle for a place in the play-offs set to be decided this weekend.
Fixtures
Saturday
Brive vs Castres
Clermont vs La Rochelle
Grenoble vs Lyon
Montpellier vs Stade Français
Racing 92 vs Bordeaux-Bègles
Toulon vs Pau
Toulouse vs Bayonne
Brive vs Castres
Stade Amédée-Domenech
Brive need something of a miracle if they're to sneak into the top six spots at the expense of four teams by the end of Saturday evening.
Only a bonus-point win will do for Brive and they will also require Racing 92, Stade Français, Pau and Lyon to lose if they're to make it.
For Castres, who have already sealed a play-off spot, the best they can finish is fourth which would give them a home tie in a fortnight. They have won their last two games while Brive have lost their previous two matches.
Last year's result: Brive won 23-22
Kick-off: 20:45 local (18:45 GMT)
Referee: Romain Poite
Assistant Referees: Ludovic Cayre, Thomas Déjean-
TMO: Denis Grenouillet
Clermont vs La Rochelle
Parc Sports Marcel Michelin
One of the games of the weekend sees second play host to first in what could well be a dress rehearsal for the Top 14 final on June 4.
No one can argue that La Rochelle haven't deserved top spot – they currently sit 10 points clear – and it wouldn't be a surprise if they took their foot off the gas on Saturday. That would be music to the ears of Clermont, who have Montpellier breathing down their neck for second position and a home game in the semi-finals which take place in three weeks.
La Rochelle bounced back from a recent loss by beating Montpol last weekend while Clermont have won their last two, both of which were on the road so they'll relish being back in front of their Parc Sports Marcel Michelin fans.
Last year's result: Clermont won 57-8
Kick-off: 20:45 local (18:45 GMT)
Referee: Mathieu Raynal
Assistant Referees: Jonathan Gasnier, Laurent Breil
TMO: Laurent Sclafer
Grenoble vs Lyon
Stade des Alpes
Like Brive, Lyon will hope for favours elsewhere on Saturday as they look to sneak into the remaining play-off spot with a win at Grenoble.
The visitors to Stade des Alpes are three points behind Racing 92 and Stade Français, with Pau one point behind those two in a fierce battle. Lyon should have enough quality to beat the relegated Grenoble but it's out of their hands.
It's a dire situation at Grenoble as they've lost their last three games, the most recent defeat coming at basement side Bayonne last week.
Last year's result: Did not play
Kick-off: 20:45 local (18:45 GMT)
Referee: Cédric Marchat
Assistant Referees: Ludovic Carrillo, Jean-Luc Rebollal
TMO: Eric Briquet Campin
Montpellier vs Stade Français
Altrad Stadium
Assured of a home play-off, Montpellier know that to seal a home semi-final they must win and also hope La Rochelle prevail at Clermont.
As mentioned above that seems unlikely due to La Rochelle already having top spot sewn up so motivation may be an issue on Saturday. It won't be for Stade Français though who still harbour hopes of making the knockout stage.
Like those in and around sixth spot it's a case of win and hope for the best for Stade, whose run of five wins from their last six Top 14 games has given them a lifeline ahead of their Challenge Cup final with Gloucester next week.
Last year's result: Montpellier won 44-20
Kick-off: 20:45 local (18:45 GMT)
Referee: Pascal Gauzère
Assistant Referees: Flavien Hourquet, Akim Hadj Bachir
TMO: Jean-Marie Piraveau
Racing 92 vs Bordeaux-Bègles
Stade Yves Du Manoir
Amazingly UBB can progress into the knockouts despite being in 11th spot. However they need a whole lot to go their way this weekend.
Currently five points adrift of sixth-place Racing 92, Bordeaux-Bègles know that if they do finish level on points with other sides, to sneak into the play-offs they must boast a better head-to-head record in terms of points accrued.
Racing 92 meanwhile fortunately have their fate in their own hands and a result that is not beaten by Stade Français should see them make it, that is unless Pau, who have a better head-to-head, claim a bonus-point win at Toulon.
Last year's result: Racing 92 won 23-18
Kick-off: 20:45 local (18:45 GMT)
Referee: Alexandre Ruiz
Assistant Referees: Luc Ramos, Jean-Claude Labarbe
TMO: Arnaud Blondel
Toulon vs Pau
Stade Mayol
Toulon will be looking for a victory that would guarantee them a home play-off when they face off with Pau at Stade Mayol this Saturday.
Currently in fourth – a spot they cannot climb from – they know that a loss would open the door to Castres usurping them in the standings.
They enter in superb form having won their last three Top 14 games while Pau ended a run of four losses last week, which has kept alive their hopes of sneaking into the knockouts. A win would take some effort at Toulon though.
Last year's result: Toulon won 21-17
Kick-off: 20:45 local (18:45 GMT)
Referee: Laurent Cardona
Assistant Referees: Thierry Mallet, Bruno Gabaldon
TMO: Philippe Bonhoure
Toulouse vs Bayonne
Stade Ernest Wallon
Last but not least and finally a game that has nothing riding on it, with Toulouse looking to end a dismal season with victory over Bayonne.
Toulouse have lost a disappointing 15 games in the league this term and are currently sitting third from bottom, with only a poor campaign from Grenoble and Saturday's opponents meaning they are not relegation threatened.
Bayonne though will be encouraged by last week's win over Grenoble, which is their second in their last five games, but winning away to Toulouse is surely difficult to envisage, even with Toulouse on a four-match losing run.
Last year's result: Did not play
Kick-off: 20:45 local (18:45 GMT)
Referee: Maxime Chalon
Assistant Referees: Mathieu Delpy, Sébastien Hebert
TMO: Eric Gauzins