Perpignan v Stade Francais - Amlin Challenge Cup
Perpignan will hope home advantage will count in their favour against Stade Francais in the Amlin Challenge Cup.
Last Updated: 26/04/13 7:48pm
Perpignan have only lost once at home in 32 European outings, while they registered a 32-16 win over Stade there in the Top 14.
The Catalan club, who last appeared in a European final in 2003 when they lost to Toulouse in the Heineken Cup showpiece in Dublin, have made wholesale changes to their line-up following their loss to Agen last time out.
Gavin Hume, Farid Sid, Adrien Plante, James Hook, Florian Cazenave, Henry Tuilagi, Luke Narraway, Romain Taofifenua, Kisi Pulu and Guilhem Guirado all come into the side after being rested.
Impressive
Stade Francais are experience campaigners in Europe's second tier, having reached the final in 2011 - losing to Harlequins - and the semi-final last season.
They booked their third successive last-four place in impressive fashion with victory over Bath, while they go into the game on the back of victory over Racing Metro.
Stade have made wholesale changes for the clash, though, with only Jerome Porical, Sergio Parisse, Gerhard Mostert, Rabah Slimani and Laurent Sempere retaining their places in the side.
Julien Dupuy crucially returns at scrum-half, however Argentina playmaker Felipe Contepomi is missing so it will be up to Jules Plisson to pull the strings at fly-half.
Perpignan: 15 Gavin Hume, 14 Farid Sid, 13 David Marty, 12 Lifeimi Mafi, 11 Adrien Plante, 10 James Hook, 9 Florian Cazenave, 8 Henry Tuilagi, 7 Luke Narraway, 6 Alasdair Strokosch, 5 Romain Taofifenua, 4 Dan Leo, 3 Kisi Pulu, 2 Guilhem Guirado, 1 Sona Taumalolo.
Replacements: 16 Romain Terrain, 17 Sebastien Taofifenua, 18 Jerome Schuster, 19 Guillaume Vilaceca, 20 David Mele, 21 Sione Piukala, 22 Michel, 23 Bertrand Guiry.
Stade Français: 15 Jerome Porical, 14 Jérémy Sinzelle, 13 Geoffrey Doumayrou, 12 Paul Williams, 11 Hugo Bonneval, 10 Jules Plisson, 9 Julien Dupuy, 8 Sergio Parisse, 7 David Lyons, 6 Pierre Rabadan, 5 Scott Lavalla, 4 Gerhard Mostert, 3 Rabah Slimani, 2 Laurent Sempere, 1 Aled de Malmanche.
Replacements: 16 Remi Bonfils, 17 Stanley Wright, 18 Jérémy Becasseau, 19 Anton van Zyl, 20 Antoine Burban, 21 Nicolas Bezy, 22 Paul Warwick, 23 Julien Arias.
