Montpellier could seal a place in the last four should they defeat Toulon at the Orange Velodrome on Saturday afternoon, but they will be taking on a team who themselves have semi-final ambitions.
Third then faces second on Sunday when Toulouse host Racing 92 at the Stade Ernest-Wallon, with a win potentially seeing Les Rouge et Noir overtake the Parisians in the table.
There is also a crucial game in the battle for survival as basement-dwellers Oyonnax look to lift themselves off the bottom of the table when they go head-to-head with 13th placed Brive.
Saturday
Toulouse vs Montpellier
Clermont Auvergne vs Bordeaux-Bègles
Oyonnax vs Brive
Pau vs Agen
Lyon vs Stade Francais
Sunday
La Rochelle vs Castres
Toulouse vs Racing 92
Toulon vs Montpellier
Orange Velodrome
It has been an excellent domestic season for Montpellier in 2017/18 and they are within touching distance of securing a semi-final place.
One win in the final three matches will probably be enough for Vern Cotter’s men to claim an automatic route through to the last four.
Toulon will be hoping to join them but their narrow defeat to Racing 92 was a significant setback and they are playing this game in the less familiar surroundings of the Orange Velodrome.
The sheer desperation the hosts will have for the victory makes Fabien Galthie’s team favourites, but it should be a thriller.
Last season’s result: Toulon won 28-6
Kick-off: 14:45 local (12:45 GMT)
Referee: Romain Poite
Assistant referees: Cyril Lafon, Patrick Pechambert
TMO: Mourad Zitouni
Clermont Auvergne vs Bordeaux-Bègles
Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin
A game between two teams whose seasons are over. Both will look to their form post-Christmas as to why they are in this situation after going into the campaign with play-off aspirations.
Clermont Auvergne, the defending champions, have particularly disappointed and remarkably won’t be in Europe’s top-tier in 2018/19 – their quarter-final defeat to Racing 92 ending those ambitions.
Meanwhile, Bordeaux faltered following the departure of Jacques Brunel to the France national team and were edging towards a relegation battle before a couple of victories eased those concerns.
It will probably be a slightly sombre atmosphere at the Marcel Michelin but these matches, with the shackles released, can sometimes produce an entertaining contest.
Last season’s result: Clermont won 40-16
Kick-off: 18:00 local (16:00 GMT)
Referee: Cedric Marchat
Assistant referees: Francois Bouzac, Laurent Breil
TMO: Eric Gonthier
Oyonnax vs Brive
Stade Charles-Mathon
In comparison to the Clermont-Bordeaux encounter, this is quite the opposite in terms of importance, with Oyonnax and Brive desperately fighting to seal their Top 14 future.
Previous years would have probably seen both of these sides drop down to Pro D2 but the relegation play-off – newly introduced for this season – offers a means of escape.
With Stade Francais now six points clear of 13th placed Brive, these two are potentially playing to avoid being bottom and suffering automatic demotion to the second tier.
Despite suffering two successive defeats, Oyonnax are the side in better form having emerged triumphant in the four matches preceding those losses and they will be boosted by home advantage.
Last season’s result: Did not play
Kick-off: 18:00 local (16:00 GMT)
Referee: Pascal Gauzere
Assistant referees: Ludovic Cayre, Bruno Gabaldon
TMO: Eric Briquet-Campin
Pau vs Agen
Stade du Hameau
Following their crucial victory over Oyonnax last weekend, Agen have given themselves some breathing space in the battle for survival and Pau may well benefit from that.
Philippe Sella’s men will most likely target their home game against Clermont Auvergne in two weeks’ time, allowing Simon Mannix’s outfit to increase their top-six chances.
Facing a team fighting for their Top 14 future can make it a much tougher affair, but form suggests that it should be a comfortable triumph for play-off chasers Pau,
Last season’s result: Did not play
Kick-off: 18:00 local (16:00 GMT)
Referee: Tual Trainini
Assistant referees: Julien Castaignede, Eric Soulan
TMO: Eric Gauzins
Lyon vs Stade Francais
Matmut Stadium de Gerland
How important could Stade Francais’ dominant triumph over Clermont Auvergne be at the end of the campaign?
The Parisians eased their relegation concerns in Round 23, moving eight points clear of basement-dwellers Oyonnax, but they will be looking to confirm their Top 14 status over the next couple of weeks.
While a win at Lyon may be beyond them, with the home side looking for a victory to boost their play-off prospects, they host Brive in late April.
Stade could still be drawn back in but good performances in the next couple of games should see them safe.
Last season’s result: Lyon won 35-33
Kick-off: 20:45 local (18:45 GMT)
Referee: Laurent Cardona
Assistant referees: Mathieu Noirot, Jean-Luc Rebollal
TMO: Maxime Chalon
La Rochelle vs Castres
Stade Marcel-Deflandre
Sunday’s action begins with an intriguing contest between two play-off contenders who are searching for the type of form which will secure their place in the top-six.
Both have stuttered slightly over recent weeks and also have difficult games in Round 25, meaning that this match could be a crucial one in the title race.
With La Rochelle and Castres next facing Toulouse and Toulon respectively, the encounter this weekend is vital in the context of the season.
Last season’s result: La Rochelle won 22-8
Kick-off: 12:30 local (10:30 GMT)
Referee: Jerome Garces
Assistant referees: Jonathan Dufort, Akim Hadj-Bachir
TMO: Philippe Bonhoure
Toulouse vs Racing 92
Stade Ernest-Wallon
Toulouse and Racing 92 complete proceedings when they go head-to-head on Sunday afternoon, looking to boost their semi-final ambitions.
The Parisians sit in a more comfortable position, four points ahead of Les Rouge et Noir, but a win for the hosts could see them overtake the second placed side.
Racing do have a slightly better run-in but Ugo Mola’s men will also fancy their chances of finishing the campaign with consecutive victories.
Despite taking on La Rochelle and Clermont Auvergne, Toulouse should overturn Patrice Collazo’s outfit at home while the Marcel Michelin will hold no fear.
It means that a positive result is just as important for the visitors as it is for Mola’s squad, so this weekend’s encounter could potentially be season-defining.
Last season’s result: Racing won 10-8
Kick-off: 16:50 local (14:50 GMT)
Referee: Mathieu Raynal
Assistant referees: Sebastien Minery, Sebastien Hebert
TMO: Laurent Sclafer
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