Toulouse will hope to put their Heineken Cup disappointment behind them when they meet Clermont in the final of the Top 14 on Saturday.

The south west giants went down 16-13 to Munster in the European final last month and will be determined to make amends in what will be an emotionally-charged clash with Clermont at the Stade de France.

Furthermore, Les Rouge et Noires have not won the French title for seven seasons, a return that does not match the ambition and tradition of France's biggest club.

But Clermont also have much invested in the Paris showdown. They finished top of the standings after the regular Top 14 season and will also be looking to reverse the result of last year's final when they went down 23-18 to Stade Francais.

Clermont go into the final having twice beaten Toulouse in the league this season. Vern Cotter's side beat Toulouse 21-17 at home and then secured an impressive 23-11 victory at the Stade Ernest Wallon.

Yet Toulouse have defeated Les Jaunards in all three of their previous meetings in the final - 1994, 1999 and 2001, when they last won the title.

Four players from the 2001 squad will be in action in Paris on Saturday and Toulouse will look to the experience of captain Jean Bouilhou, two-time champion Fabien Pelous (pictured), Clement Poitrenaud and William Servat to give them an edge.

But Toulouse coach guy Noves is also missing two key players in France internationals Jean-Baptiste Elissalde and Yannick Nyanga.

Fly-half Elissalde especially will be missed as he is the heartbeat of the team. When he goes well Toulouse go well. They have strength in the back row to cover Nyanga's absence but Elissalde will not be so easily replaced.

Clermont are also likely to be the fresher of the two sides. They have had a day longer to recover from their 21-7 semi-final victory over Perpignan and nor did they have the gruelling European campaign of Toulouse, who will be playing their 38th game of the season at the Stade de France.

The only absentee for Clermont is veteran Pumas prop Martin Scelzo, whose season ended two weeks ago due to a collarbone injury.

Otherwise Cotter has a full squad to select from and will be hoping the league's leading points scorer, Kiwi fly-half Brock James, can guide his side to one more victory.

The evidence this season suggests that Clermont are slight favourites, but Toulouse have won the 'Bouclier de Brennus' 16 times and will feel history on their side in the cauldron of the Stade de France.

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Terence O'Rorke / Eurosport