It is the penultimate weekend of the regular Top 14 season where the top and bottom spots could be decided by Sunday evening.
Montpellier will secure a place in the semi-finals – and first position – with a bonus-point victory over Pau while Stade Francais take on Brive in a crucial clash.
A comfortable win for the Parisians, combined with Oyonnax overcoming Lyon, would see Nicolas Godignon’s men relegated into Pro D2.
Saturday
Toulon vs Castres
Agen vs Clermont Auvergne
Montpellier vs Pau
Oyonnax vs Lyon
Stade Francais vs Brive
Sunday
Bordeaux-Bègles vs Racing 92
Toulouse vs La Rochelle
Toulon vs Castres
Stade Mayol
A win for either of these sides will effectively confirm their play-off place while Toulon are still in the hunt for automatic semi-final qualification.
They reside just two points behind Toulouse and Racing 92 and a victory in Saturday’s early encounter would put pressure on them, irrespective of those teams’ favourable run-in.
Castres are also in a decent position in the table and have the benefit of taking on Oyonnax in Round 26. Although Christophe Urios would ideally like to see his side win both contests, one victory may be enough to confirm a position in the top-six.
Last season’s result: Toulon won 23-14
Kick-off: 14:45 local (12:45 GMT)
Referee: Mathieu Raynal
Assistant referees: Laurent Cardona, Frederic Chazal
TMO: Laurent Sclafer
Agen vs Clermont Auvergne
Stade Armandie
All of a sudden, after battling for their Top 14 future throughout the campaign, Agen are in a wonderful position and have an opportunity to make sure of their survival.
They are all but there anyway, with Philippe Sella’s men eight points clear of 13th placed Oyonnax, but a victory over Clermont would confirm their status in France’s top-tier for another year.
With Les Jaunards having nothing to play for it is eminently feasible for the hosts, particularly following successive victories against Oyonnax and Pau.
Sella’s charges are in-form and it would be an outstanding achievement should they beat Auvergne and stay up.
Last season’s result: Did not play
Kick-off: 20:45 local (18:45 GMT)
Referee: Julien Castaignede
Assistant referees: Sebastien Boyer, Jacques De Lemos
TMO: Eric Gauzins
Montpellier vs Pau
Altrad Stadium
Montpellier have been inconsistent recently but it hasn’t mattered with Vern Cotter’s men in such a strong position going into the latter stage of the season.
Three victories in the last five – all at home – has given them an opportunity to seal their passage into the semi-finals and potentially top spot.
They may already be there, with Toulouse and Racing 92 still six points in arrears, but a bonus-point win on Saturday night would secure a last-four place.
Pau, meanwhile, still harbour hopes of a top-six finish but their shock defeat to Agen at the Stade du Hameau last weekend was a huge setback for Simon Mannix’s side.
Last season’s result: Montpellier won 41-13
Kick-off: 20:45 local (18:45 GMT)
Referee: Sebastien Minery
Assistant referees: Tual Trainini, Jean-Luc Rebollal
TMO: Patrick Dellac
Oyonnax vs Lyon
Stade Charles-Mathon
A big game for both sides with Oyonnax looking to escape the drop, while Lyon are still searching for a place in the top-six.
In particular, there will be an interesting conundrum for Adrien Buononato’s men, who will look at the result of the Stade Francais v Brive encounter with interest.
The changes to the rules means that finishing in 13th place does not see that team automatically relegated – they go into a play-off against a side from the Pro D2 – but do the strugglers want that worry?
Should Oyonnax and Brive win then finishing outside the bottom two will be easier, but it will leave Buononato's charges with the threat of ending the season at the foot of the table on the final day.
Last season’s result: Did not play
Kick-off: 20:45 local (18:45 GMT)
Referee: Alexandre Ruiz
Assistant referees: Cedric Marchat, Arnaud Blondel
TMO: Denis Grenouillet
Stade Francais vs Brive
Stade Jean-Bouin
As intimated when looking at the Oyonnax-Lyon contest, this size of this game cannot be underestimated.
A victory for the hosts would be a huge fillip in their battle to avoid relegation but a loss could be catastrophic. Should Brive overcome the Parisians then they have a very realistic chance of moving above the 2015 champions in the final round.
Nicolas Godignon’s men take on Bordeaux-Bègles at home while Stade have to head for the Stade Marcel-Deflandre where they will take on La Rochelle, which is an infinitely more concerning prospect.
Oyonnax will also have their say in the final two matches but it is shaping up to be an incredibly tense couple of weeks at the bottom.
Last season’s result: Stade won 12-10
Kick-off: 20:45 local (18:45 GMT)
Referee: Jerome Garces
Assistant referees: Jonathan Dufort, Bruno Gabaldon
TMO: Philippe Bonhoure
Bordeaux-Bègles vs Racing 92
Stade Chaban-Delmas
While Racing 92 have a Champions Cup final to look forward to, they are also seeking to gain automatic qualification for the Top 14 last four.
Although the Parisians are currently in third, they are level on points with Toulouse and it is only due to head-to-head record that Les Rouge et Noir are above them in the table.
Both have winnable encounters in the final two weeks so bonus-points may be crucial and, although Bordeaux will want to finish their season on a high, Racing should have too much for the hosts.
With their main rivals for second having a couple of slightly trickier games to finish, a positive result at UBB may put them in the driving seat going into Round 26.
Last season’s result: Bordeaux won 15-9
Kick-off: 12:30 local (10:30 GMT)
Referee: Ludovic Cayre
Assistant referees: Herve Lasausa Lespy Labaylette, Laurent Breil
TMO: Eric Gonthier
Toulouse vs La Rochelle
Stade Ernest-Wallon
Another crucial game in the Top 14 with Toulouse searching for a top-two finish and the visitors hoping to sneak into the play-offs after a frustrating second half of the season.
La Rochelle were arguably the outstanding team in 2016/17 and began this campaign in impressive fashion, but they have faltered recently having lost their last three matches. Even the much-vaunted Stade Marcel-Deflandre has started to become far less intimidating following victories for Toulon and Castres there.
Patrice Collazo’s men need a win but it is difficult to see them overturning a Toulouse outfit that have been hugely impressive over the course of this campaign.
Ugo Mola’s side are in-form and, at the Stade Ernest-Wallon, they should defeat the previous campaign’s league leaders.
Last season’s result: La Rochelle won 27-21
Kick-off: 16:50 local (14:50 GMT)
Referee: Romain Poite
Assistant referees: Adrien Descottes, Jean-Claude Labarbe
TMO: Mourad Zitouni
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