All the team news ahead of Friday's Challenge Cup, including the Blues' match against Montpellier, and Newcastle's trip to Connacht.
La Rochelle v Zebre (7pm)
La Rochelle are looking to end an unwanted record against Zebre this weekend. The French side are on the hunt for their first victory against foreign opposition in almost five years when they welcome the Italians on Friday.
They last defeated a non-French side in Europe in January 2011, but fittingly that victory came against Italian opposition - a 71-17 defeat of Rovigo.
Worryingly for the Frenchmen, they have lost their last six games in Europe, including the opening games of this season's campaign against Worcester and Gloucester. Previously their worst run of consecutive defeats in Europe was just two.
Facing them is a Zebre side who head to Stade Marcel Deflandre after springing a victory over Worcester in the last round. Tries from Marcello Violi and Tommaso Boni along with 17 points from the boot of Carlo Canna clinched a 27-8 win in Parma.
La Rochelle: 15 Benjamin Lapeyre, 14 Lancelot Luteau, 13 Elliot Roudil, 12 Malietoa Hingano, 11 Kini Murimurivalu, 10 Fabien Fortassin, 9 Jules Lebail, 1 Thomas Synaeghel, 2 Maxime Gau, 3 Uini Atonio, 4 Damien Lagrange, 5 Leo Cedaro, 6 Romain Sazy, 7 Zeno Kieft (c), 8 Jone Qovu Nailiko.
Replacements: 16 Benjamin Geledan, 17 Jordan Seneca, 18 Gagi Bazadze, 19 Romana Graham, 20 Benoit Guyot, 21 Ricky Januarie, 22 Jean-Pascal Barraque, 23 Kamilieni Raivono.
Zebre Rugby: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Kayle Van Zyl, 13 Giulio Bisegni, 12 Matteo Pratichetti, 11 Michele Visentin, 10 Edoardo Padovani, 9 Luke Burgess, 1 Andrea de Marchi, 2 Victor Emiliano Coria Marchetti, 3 Pietro Ceccarelli, 4 Valerio Bernabo, 5 Marco Bortolami (c), 6 Filippo Ferrarini, 7 Johan Meyer, 8 Paul Derbyshire.
Replacements: 16 Tommaso D'Apice, 17 Andrea Lovotti, 18 Dario Chistolini, 19 Federico Ruzza, 20 Filippo Cristiano, 21 Guglielmo Palazzani, 22 Giiulio Toniolatti, 23 Carlo Canna.
Cardiff Blues v Montpellier (7.30pm)
Cardiff Blues cannot afford to lose their Friday night Challenge Cup encounter with Montpellier at Cardiff Arms Park if they are to qualify for the knock-out stages. The Welsh side lie third in pool three, level on points with Montpellier.
A 32-20 defeat at home to Harlequins in round two has left Danny Wilson's side having to play catch-up in order to stay in the hunt for European silverware. The Blues go into the fixture on the back of a momentum-building 20-16 win over PRO12 leaders Connacht last weekend.
The two sides have never met in the Challenge Cup, but when they met in the Champions Cup three seasons ago, Montpellier won both matches.
"Montpellier boast an extremely powerful squad full of internationals and household names," said Wilson.
"They have already secured some impressive results in the Top14 this season.
"Montpellier showed in the first half of their opening pool game with Harlequins what they are capable of and it is a great challenge to play them at home and away in the Altrad Stadium in the South of France in the coming week."
Cardiff Blues: 15 Dan Fish, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Rey Lee-Lo, 12 Gavin Evans, 11 Tom James, 10 Rhys Patchell, 9 Lloyd Williams (c), 1 Sam Hobbs, 2 Kristian Dacey, 3 Tau Filise, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 5 James Down, 6 Macauley Cook, 7 Josh Navidi, 8 Josh Turnbull.
Replacements: 16 Ethan Lewis, 17 Gethin Jenkins, 18 Craig Mitchell, 19 Scott Andrews, 20 Cam Dolan, 21 Tavis Knoyle, 22 Jarrod Evans, 23 Garyn Smith.
Montpellier: 15 Benjamin Fall, 14 Timoci Nagusa, 13 Anthony Tuitavke, 12 Robert Ebersohn, 11 Julien Malzieu, 10 Benjamin Lucas, 9 Benoit Paillaugue, 1 Jamie Mackintosh, 2 Bismarck Du Plessis, 3 Pat Cilliers, 4 Jacques Du Plessis, 5 Paul Willemse, 6 Wiaan Liebenberg, 7 Antoine Battut (c), 8 Akapusi Qera.
Replacements: 16 Charles Geli, 17 Mikheil Nariashvili, 18 Nicolas Mas, 19 Robins Tchale Watchou, 20 Fulgence Ouedraogo, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Demetri Catrakilis, 23 Anthony Floch.
Connacht v Newcastle Falcons (7.45pm)
Due to injuries suffered by Connacht in recent times, head coach Pat Lam has made 10 changes from the side that lost to Cardiff Blues in the PRO12 last weekend.
There is a first start for 21-year-old Caolin Blade, who made an appearance from the bench in Krasnoyarsk last month, while in the pack there are just two players remaining from last week - Aly Muldowney and James Connolly.
"With 18 players unavailable through injury from our European squad, it was certainly a challenge to piece together a match day squad for tomorrow," said Lam.
"We are forced to name the 23 remaining players which include three hookers in the team as Dave [Heffernan] will be required to cover the backrow.
"Thankfully Danie [Poolman] and Ian [Porter] passed late fitness tests this morning to take their place on the bench. While it isn't ideal, it's simply another test for us to meet head on."
Connacht: 15 Tiernan O'Halloran (c), 14 Niyi Adeolokun, 13 Rory Parata, 12 Peter Robb, 11 Matt Healy, 10 Jack Carty, 9 Caolin Blade, 1 Finlay Bealham, 2 Jason Harris Wright, 3 Nathan White, 4 Ultan Dillane, 5 Aly Muldowney, 6 Sean O'Brien, 7 James Connolly, 8 George Naoupu.
Replacements: 16 Shane Delahunt, 17 Conan O'Donnell, 18 Rodney Ah You, 19 Danny Qualter, 20 David Heffernan, 21 Ian Porter, 22 Shane O'Leary, 23 Danie Poolman.
Newcastle Falcons: 15 Simon Hammersley, 14 Dan Marshall, 13 Tom Penny, 12 Chris Harris, 11 Zach Kibirige, 10 Craig Willis, 9 Tane Takulua, 1 Alex Rogers, 2 Scott Lawson, 3 Taione Vea, 4 Will Witty, 5 Mouritz Botha, 6 Richard Mayhew (c), 7 Dan Temm, 8 Allister Hogg.
Replacements: 16 Rob Hawkins, 17 Ben Harris, 18 Andy Foster, 19 Calum Green, 20 Callum Chick, 21 Ruaridh Dawson, 22 Juan Socino, 23 Marcus Watson.