Last season’s Top 14 runners-up Montpellier will look to continue their recent improvement when they take on Toulon in the weekend’s big game.
Elsewhere, two sides who have started the season well, Castres and Stade Francais, go head-to-head earlier on Sunday, while Saturday is headlined by the clashes between La Rochelle and Clermont Auvergne, and Racing 92 versus Lyon.
Saturday
La Rochelle vs Clermont Auvergne
Grenoble vs Bordeaux-Bègles
Pau vs Perpignan
Racing 92 vs Lyon
Toulouse vs Agen
Sunday
Castres vs Stade Francais
Montpellier vs Toulon
La Rochelle vs Clermont Auvergne
Stade Marcel-Deflandre
League leaders Clermont head to the Stade Marcel-Deflandre to face La Rochelle looking to increase their buffer at the top.
Although Les Jaunards lost their unbeaten record in their previous away game, they responded superbly by comfortably beating Toulon at the Marcel Michelin.
They should be favourites heading into this encounter too, particularly with the hosts struggling for consistency in 2018/19 so far.
To La Rochelle’s credit, their last contest at home saw them produce their best performance of the campaign by beating Lyon 30-13, but Clermont are an altogether different beast.
Last season’s result: La Rochelle won 51-20
Kick-off: 14:45 local (13:45 BST, 12:45 GMT)
Referee: Ludovic Cayre
Assistant referees: Vincent Blasco-Baque, Patrick Pechambert
TMO: Denis Grenouillet
Grenoble vs Bordeaux-Bègles
Stade des Alpes
It has been a tough start to the campaign for Grenoble, who gained promotion from the Pro D2 last season by defeating Oyonnax in a play-off, but this encounter offers them a chance to claim a second victory.
Bordeaux have displayed an improvement since their three-match winless run, gaining impressive victories over Clermont Auvergne and La Rochelle, but picking up results on their travels has been an issue.
Losing to Agen was a particular disappointment and you get the sense that another defeat to one of the strugglers would be a significant blow to their top-six ambitions.
Last season’s result: Did not play
Kick-off: 18:00 local (17:00 BST, 16:00 GMT)
Referee: Jonathan Dufort
Assistant referees: Laurent Cardona, Jean-Luc Rebollal
TMO: Mourad Zitouni
Pau vs Perpignan
Stade du Hameau
Similar to Grenoble, Perpignan have endured a poor start to the campaign, but their situation is even more perilous than their fellow promoted outfit.
Without a win in six games, Christian Lanta’s men are rooted to the foot of the table and face another tough task by heading to the Stade du Hameau.
Confidence is low and it is likely that they will head into the European break without registering a victory in the competition so far.
Although Pau have not exactly been outstanding in 2018/19 and were outplayed by Stade Francais in their previous home match, they should have too much for the Catalans.
Last season’s result: Did not play
Kick-off: 18:00 local (17:00 BST, 16:00 GMT)
Referee: Cyril Lafon
Assistant referees: Cedric Clave, Jacques De Lemos
TMO: Philippe Bonhoure
Racing 92 vs Lyon
Paris La Defense Arena
One of the big games of the weekend takes place on Saturday evening as Racing, fresh from their victory in the Paris derby, look to make it three victories in a row.
The 2016 champions have secured two successive triumphs, after overcoming Castres and Stade, and appear to be finding their rhythm.
Despite being shocked 40-17 at home by Clermont and losing 30-17 to Toulouse, their components are coming together nicely.
Finn Russell appears settled at fly-half and, although Lyon should present a stern challenge, the hosts will fancy their chances of being in the top two by the end of the weekend.
Last season’s result: Lyon won 20-17
Kick-off: 18:00 local (17:00 BST, 16:00 GMT)
Referee: Thomas Charabas
Assistant referees: Vivien Praderie, Richard Duhau
TMO: Cedric Marchat
Toulouse vs Agen
Stade Ernest-Wallon
After a positive start for Toulouse, it all went a bit wrong against Montpellier and Castres. Ugo Mola decided to rest a number of stars when visiting last season’s runners-up, instead targeting their home encounter with the 2017/18 Top 14 winners.
It appeared perfectly logical and all was going well when they went 22-3 ahead early in the second period, but his players contrived to throw it away and ended up succumbing 26-22.
Fortunately for Les Rouge et Noir, they have an opportunity to right the wrongs of the previous two weeks when facing Agen.
Philippe Sella’s men have not performed well on the road in the first six rounds and it would be a surprise if they came close at the Stade Ernest-Wallon.
Last season’s result: Toulouse won 30-10
Kick-off: 20:45 local (19:45 BST, 18:45 GMT)
Referee: Julien Castaignede
Assistant referees: Tual Trainini, Frederic Chazal
TMO: Eric Gauzins
Castres vs Stade Francais
Stade Pierre-Fabre
A potentially thrilling Sunday opens with the defending champions taking on a side who have enjoyed a good start to the season.
However, Stade’s opening to the campaign was slightly undermined after going down to their Parisian rivals Racing 92 at the Stade Jean-Bouin last weekend.
They still reside in second position but could be overtaken by a host of clubs, including Castres, should they falter against Christophe Urios’ men.
It is another tough game for Urios’ charges, who have faced a number of the title favourites already, but they have shown few weaknesses so far this year.
Last season’s result: Castres won 28-6
Kick-off: 12:30 local (11:30 BST, 10:30 GMT)
Referee: Pascal Gauzere
Assistant referees: Maxime Chalon, Bruno Gabaldon
TMO: Eric Briquet-Campin
Montpellier vs Toulon
GGL Stadium
Not too many onlookers would have foreseen Toulon struggling this badly and it could get worse when they go head-to-head with Montpellier on Sunday.
Patrice Collazo’s men succumbed to their fourth defeat in six games when they went down to Clermont Auvergne in Round Six and they face another tough trip, this time to last season’s runners-up.
Vern Cotter’s outfit are improving and secured successive wins heading into this encounter, leaving them in sixth place in the Top 14 table.
Another victory will move them into the top-four and it is difficult to look past them. Although they began slowly – seemingly suffering a hangover from the previous campaign’s loss to Castres in the final – they are starting to display their capabilities and should be well-placed domestically heading into the Champions Cup.
Last season’s result: Montpellier won 43-20
Kick-off: 16:50 local (15:50 BST, 14:50 GMT)
Referee: Pierre Brousset
Assistant referees: Adrien Descottes, Jean-Claude Labarbe
TMO: Akim Hadj-Bachir