Montpellier battled to a 12-8 home victory over Montauban to crush their rivals' hopes of a play-off semi final spot.

Montauban now lie seventh, 12 points behind fourth-placed Perpignan with only two games of the Top 14 regular season remaining.

Montpellier are two points behind in eighth.

All of the hosts' points came from the boots of Mark McHugh and Francois Trinh-Duc and they were 9-0 up at the break.

A Fabien Fortassin penalty and an uncoverted Marc Raynaud try reduced arrears before Trinh-Duc extended the lead to 12-8 with six minutes remaining.

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The clash of the weekend sees Biarritz travel to third-placed Stade Francais, who will secure their spot in the semi-finals with a win at the Stade de France on Saturday.

The Parisians welcome back Italy flanker Mauro Bergamasco following a 17-week suspension incurred in the Six Nations for eye-gouging.

Biarritz will need to do the double over Stade in order to maintain their late push for a play-off place.

The Atlantic coast club, who have been boosted by the return of France centre Damien Traille from an elbow injury, have bounced back from a run of four defeats by winning their last two games.

But Perpignan can scupper Biarritz's chances if they win on the road at struggling Dax and follow up their 50-6 thumping of an under-strength Toulouse on Tuesday.

Perpignan, who hope to have France centre David Marty available following a rib injury, have lost just two of their last 14 games, are likely to prove too powerful for a Dax side sitting second from bottom.

Castres still have a mathematical chance of reaching the play-offs but will be more focused on maintaining their qualification for the Heineken Cup with a victory over Albi.

Clermont hope to have France scrum-half Pierre Mignoni back from injury as they look to finish top after the regular season with a win at Bayonne.

They will also want to make amends for last week's loss at Montauban, while Toulouse will make sure of a home semi-final if they down Bourgoin.

Toulouse will be without hooker William Servat but should prove too strong ninth-placed Bayonne.

The remaining game of the weekened sees relegated Auch travel to Brive, who are third from bottom.

Terence O'Rorke / Reda Maher / Eurosport