Toulouse v Stade Francais:A TEAM that can leave Shawn Sowerby and Maxime Medard among the replacements illustrates a depth in quality that would be the envy of their rivals in the Heineken Cup. Toulouse coach Guy Noves has elected to start the South African and Medard, one of the most exciting runners in world rugby on the bench.

Sowerby loses out to French Test player Louis Picamoles at number eight while Noves has plumped for Clement Poitrenaud, Vincent Clerc and Cedric Heymans in his back three. The home side are without the injured Freddie Michalak and Jean Baptiste Elissalde but are hardly compromised in having former All Black Byron Kelleher and David Skrela as their half-backs.

Stade Francais have paired French Six Nations sensation Mathieu Bastareaud with former Australian rugby league star Mark Gasnier in the centre. The Parisian club are still with Italian captain Sergio Parisse and look a little underpowered to deal with the home threat as they were in a recent league meeting.

TOULOUSE:C Poitrenaud, V Clerc, F Fritz, Y Jauzion, C Heymans, D Skrela, B Kelleher, J Poux, W Servat, B Lecouls, R Millo-Chluski, P Albacete, J Bouilhou, T Dusautoir, capt, L Picamoles. Replacements:V Lacombe, D Human, C Johnston, S Sowerby, Y Maestri, N Bezy, M Medard, G Lamboley/Y David.

STADE FRANCAIS:H Southwell, J Arias, M Bastareaud, M Gasnier, M Bergamasco, L Beauxis, N Oelschig, R Roncero, capt, D Szarzewski, S Marconnet, T Palmer, P Pape, A Burban, P Rabadan, J Leguizamon. Replacements:B Kayser, R Slimani, R Gerber, A Marchois, S Taylor, B Tardy, I Mieres, G Messina.

Referee:Alan Lewis (Ireland).