Top 14 weekend set for drama

Champions against perennial contenders

Biarritz go across country to meet Toulouse in Toulouse on Sunday in a massive climax to the Top 14's round 8.

Biarritz are the champions after beating Stade Français in last season's final but this year they lost the Battle of Biarritz to the Parisians and are trailing Toulouse by seven points. Smart money would suggest that they would be further behind on Sunday evening.

Form must favour Toulouse  who have had the good news that Jean-Baptiste Elissalde is fit and well though there is some doubt about Vincent Clerc and his right knee.

Biarritz have Thomas Lièvremont but are again without Imanol Harinordoquy, suspended first for being sent off against Stade Français and then injured against Clermont Auvergne.

Toulouse have won all seven of their matches so far, four away from home, and this time they are at home.

Biarritz have lost to Agen away and Stade Français at home and last week beat Clermont Auvergne 9-0 in Biarritz. None of that is comforting - not against Toulouse whop beat Agen 33-18 in Agen.

It is a weekend with the top matches at either end, for Stade Français travel down to Clermont-Ferrand on the edge of the Massif Central to take on the Michelin men of Clermont Auvergne. It will not be easy for the sophisticated Parisians even if Stephen Jones is unfit because of his ankle injury.

Stade Français have their problems, too, and are without Brian Liebenberg, Pieter de Villiers and Mauro Bergamasco but they are still able to muster a really classy team which includes six top foreigners. And they are likely to introduce their new signing - veteran Alain Penaud.

Stade Français have not been in commanding form though they did beat Biarritz down at the sea. Clermont have won their three home matches so far this season but then against "weaker" opposition - Montpellier, Toulon and Agen.

Not that Saturday's matches are not interesting. Castres and Brive are close to each other on the table though Castres, who have Yann Delaigue back from a shoulder injury, have wobbled after a great start to the season. Brive have also been wobbly though, Bourgoin apart, they have not had outstanding results. The home victory over Bourgoin was a good one.

Bourgoin are at home this weekend to Agen and surely they will win. They are so good at home and Agen are not good away from home.

Basques play Catalans in Bayonne. The venue is important. Perpignan appear invincible at home and are pretty battle-hardened already this season after playing Biarritz, Castres, Stade Français, Toulouse, Clermont Auvergne and Bourgoin. Everything in the first round must be easier after that schedule. It is a match the Catalans could well wing.

Narbonne are another side who could well win away from home. Montpellier are battling and their Narbonne neighbours have the scalps of Stade Francis and Clermont Auvergne dangling from their belts.

The Pau-Toulon match is a basement battle, both trying to get out of the relegation zone. Toulon are newly promoted and Pau had to win a promotion-relegation match to stay in the Top 14 where so far this year they have gained a single point - a bonus point for losing only 26-19 to Narbonne last weekend. Pau are at home, which may help, but their prospects are not all that rosy. Toulon have welcomed Samoan Mussolini Schuster into the centre berth.

Present standings:

1. Toulouse 31
2. Biarritz 24
3. Stade Français 24
4. Bourgoin 24
5. Perpignan 21
6. Clermont 19
7. Brive 16
8. Castres 14
9. Bayonne 13
10. Agen 13
11. Narbonne 12
12. Montpellier 6
13. Toulon 6
14. Pau 5 1

This weekend's fixtures, with match officials:

Clermont Auvergne vs Stade Français
Referee: Jean-Luc Rebollal
Touch judges: Daniel Jeanguiot, Jean-Paul Vermande
Assessor: Joël Dumé
Goal judges: Jean-Christophe Clot, Salem Attalah

Bayonne vs Perpignan
Referee: Christophe Berdos
Touch judges: Jean-Louis Fillon, Michel Couzier
Assessor: Michel Lamoulie
Goal judges: Stéphan Pomarède, Richard Denninger

Bourgoin vs Agen
Referee: Frank Maciello
Touch judges: Maurice Duny, Dominique Martin
Assessor: Jean-Marc Noir
Goal judges: Patrick Bellet, Grégoire Silvain

Castres vs Brive
Referee: Eric Darrière
Touch judges: Didier Dussaut, Jean-Louis Suau
Assessor: Marc Daroque
Goal judges: José Bexiga, Jérôme Lamirand

Montpellier vs Narbonne
Referee: Romain Poite
Touch judges: Jean-Claude Abejean, Alain Rongier
Assessor: Serge Marzullo
Goal judges: Bernard Dal Maso, Jean-Pierre Vaquette

Pau vs Toulon
Referee: Akim Hadj Bachir
Touch judges: Gilbert Darrieutort, Franck Florens
Assessor: Roger Duhau
Goal judges: Pascal Gauzere, Eric Lavit

Toulouse vs Biarritz
Referee: Joël Jutge
Touch judges: Henri Claverie, Claude Tajan
Assessor: Marc Desclaux
Goal judges: Jérôme Garces, Jean-Pierre Pellaprat