Although Murrayfield is often more than three quarters empty for Edinburgh home matches, the 67,000 capacity stadium is a notoriously hard place to win for visiting sides.

The Scottish side, still missing captain Mike Blair with an ankle injury, have nothing left to play for in the competition but will be looking to spoil the party for Stade.

Fly half Chris Patterson, who stands just two points from becoming the team’s all-time record point scorer, says he is more in causing an upset than surpassing the milestone.

He said, “Breaking the record would be a nice accolade, but it not first and foremost in my mind. Over the years, we have beaten the likes of Toulouse in the Heineken Cup and it would be great to be able to add another big French club’s name to that list.”

In the battle of the capitals, two-time runners up Stade only need a losing bonus point to finish as pool winners.

But the incentive of quarter-final home advantage will be more than enough motivation for the French giants to go for the win.