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Preview: Stade Français v Harlequins

Friday 05th December 2008

Pink armada: Mathieu Bastareaud will start at outside centre for Stade Français

Argentinean play-maker Juan Martin Hernandez has recovered from injury in time to be named at fly-half for Stade Français for the Pool Four Heineken Cup clash with Harlequins at the Stade de France on Saturday.

The two top clubs in Pool Four will go head to head at the 80,000 seater Parisian stadium. Quins will be wanting to avenge the heavy defeat inflicted by the Stade Français when the English side returned to Europe's elite competition last season.

Both Hernandez and lock Arnaud Marchois were doubtful starters but have been past fit at the last minute. Coach Ewen McKenzie also has the luxury of welcoming back Guillaume Bousses and Mark Gasnier, who will both be on the bench.

Harlequins welcome back a clutch of their international stars, including England backs Ugo Monye and Danny Care.

Monye completes a dangerous looking back three which also includes Tom Williams and Mike Brown, whilst Care slots in at half-back alongside former All Black Nick Evans.

Up front Nick Easter returns at number eight, meaning Tom Guest has to settle for a place on the bench with George Robson.

Form: Harlequins and Stade Français are all-square on nine at the top of Pool Four after easily beating Scarlets and Ulster respectively. Stade Français have only ever lost once at home in the Heineken Cup (against Munster in 2002). The French side bounced back from a three match losing streak to win on the road in Biarritz last weekend. Harlequins are also in good form after beating Bath in the Guinness Premiership.

The Teams:

Stade Français: 15 Djibril Camara, 14 Julien Arias, 13 Mathieu Bastareaud, 12 Brian Liebenberg, 11 Julien Saubade, 10 Juan Martin Hernandez, 9 Noel Oelschig, 8 Sergio Parisse, 7 Pierre Rabadan, 6 Juan Leguizamon, 5 Simon Taylor, 4 Arnaud Marchois, 3 Sylvain Marconnet, 2 Dimitri Szarzewski, 1 Rodrigo Roncero.
Replacements: 16 Mathieu Blin, 17 Franck Montanella, 18 Pierre Vigouroux, 19 Mauro Bergamasco, 20 Alexandre Albouy, 21 Guillaume Bousses, 22 Mark Gasnier.

Harlequins: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Tom Williams, 13 Gonzalo Tiesi, 12 Jordan Turner-Hall, 11 Ugo Monye, 10 Nick Evans, 9 Danny Care, 8 Nick Easter, 7 Will Skinner (c), 6 Chris Robshaw, 5 Jim Evans, 4 James Percival, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Tani Fuga, 1 Ceri Jones.
Replacements: 16 Chris Brooker, 17 Mark Lambert, 18 George Robson, 19 Tom Guest, 20 Junior Poluleuligaga, 21 Tosh Masson, 22 Chris Malone.

Date: Saturday, December 6
Venue: Stade de France
Kick-off: 16:30 (15:30 GMT)
Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland)
Touch judges: David Wilkinson (Ireland), Trevor Collins (Ireland)
Television match official: Marshall Kilgore (Ireland)