Amlin Challenge Cup preview: Toulouse v Perpignan
Toulouse are without several key players for Friday's Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final against Perpignan.
Last Updated: 05/04/13 7:41pm
Thierry Dusautoir, Yannick Nyanga, Louis Picamoles and Luke McAlister are all missing for the visitors at Stade Aime Giral, while prop Census Johnston is another unavailable for selection.
Vasil Kakovin gets a game up front in the absence of Johnston and Gillian Galan, Sylvain Nicolas and Grégory Lamboley all start in the back row.
Luke Burgess and Lionel Beauxis are the half-back combination as Toulouse, who currently sit third in their domestic league, look to triumph on their travels.
To do so they will have to tame a strong Perpignan side; with work to do to reach the play-offs in league action, the hosts have decided to field their strongest line-up in Europe's second tier competition.
Wales international James Hook starts in the No 10 jersey but it is up front where USAP will look to dominate.
Henry Tuilagi, Alasdair Strokosch and Dan Leo are named in the back row behind lock combination Romain Taofifenua and Sebastien Vahaamahina.
The front-row sees Nicolas Mas, Guilhem Guirado and Sebastien Taofifenua pack down as starters, with loosehead prop Sona Taumalolo on the bench.
Perpignan: 15 Gavin Hume, 14 Farid Sid, 13 Lifeimi Mafi, 12 Sione Piukala, 11 Adrien Plante, 10 James Hook, 9 Florian Cazenave, 8 Henry Tuilagi, 7 Alasdair Strokosch, 6 Dan Leo, 5 Romain Taofifenua, 4 Sebastien Vahaamahina, 3 Nicolas Mas, 2 Guilhem Guirado, 1 Sebastien Taofifenua.
Replacements: 16 Romain Terrain, 17 Sona Taumalolo, 18 Kisi Pulu, 19 Guillaume Vilaceca, 20 David Mele, 21 Sofiane Guitoune, 22 Bertrand Guiry, 23 Luke Narraway.
Toulouse: 15 Maxime Medard, 14 Timoci Matanavou, 13 Florian Fritz, 12 Gaël Fickou, 11 Yves Donguy, 10 Lionel Beauxis, 9 Luke Burgess, 8 Gillian Galan, 7 Sylvain Nicolas, 6 Grégory Lamboley, 5 Edwin Maka, 4 Romain Millo-Chluski, 3 Vasil Kakovin, 2 Jaba Bregvadze, 1 Jean-Baptiste Poux.
Replacements: 16 Christopher Tolofua, 17 Cyril Baille, 18 Yohan Montes, 19 Ruslan Boukerou, 20 Karl Chateau, 21 Yannick Jauzion, 22 Yann David, 23 Sebastien Bezy.