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Toulon ensured they maintained their place in the French top flight next season after Friday all but pushing fellow relegation strugglers Dax through the relegation trapdoor with a 22-12 win.

With Mont-de-Marsan having already dropped into the second tier Dax were hoping to force their way out of trouble with a home success ahead of the final week of the campaign.

Bourgoin and Castres, two other struggling sides, will meet on Saturday - but it was the fate of Toulon which many fans were eyeing well beyond the southern town after the club spent heavily in the close season ahead of what was supposed to be a potential title challenge.

Instead, a side including former All Black flanker Jerry Collins - cousin of coach Tana Umaga - and former Springbok star Joe van Niekerk, have found themselves trying to stave off disaster before Philippe Saint Andre, current director of rugby at Sale, takes over this summer.

Dax, coached by France head coach Marc Lievremont's brother Thomas, only stayed up last term because Albi were judged not to have the required funding to stay up.

But this time the trapdoor is set to close over their heads after Friday's reverse at their Stade Maurice-Boyau before an 8,000 crowd.

Maxime Petitjean kicked four penalties for Dax but Toulon romped home with tries from Van Niekerk and Sinoti Sinoti, a trio of penalties by Van Niekerk's compatriot Conrad Barnard and a Sebastien Fauque drop goal.

With the top four play-off places already settled all eyes will be on the relegation battle this weekend, which has already claimed Stade Montois.

Bourgoin are also struggling - in terms of funds as well as form - though they insist they have already raised 1.2million of the two million euros they lack in order to assure the Federation they can stay afloat next season.

Relegation would be costly for Bourgoin as, even if they were to beat English side Northampton in the European Challenge Cup final on May 22, they have been told by the organisers that they would not be allowed to defend their crown next term.

Castres should survive but they have already lost a major star for next season after France captain Lionel Nallet confirmed last week that he would be joining the newly-promoted, big-spending Paris club Racing-Metro.

Racing-Metro will be dearly hoping that this time next year they will not be in the same position as beleaguered Toulon, who have shown that money cannot buy you everything, notably success.

Also at stake this weekend are Heineken Cup spots for next season and Biarritz will need to beat Stade Francais in Paris to make sure of holding on to their fifth place.

The top six sides automatically qualify for Europe's premier competition and Biarritz are currently a point ahead of Bayonne and two points ahead of Brive.

Biarritz assistant coach Jack Isaac described the trip to Paris as "our final" as the club looks to salvage something from a season that saw the club slump to six straight defeats from November to the new year.

With Stade already confirmed a top-four place, it is not inconceivable that the Atlantic Coast club could maintain a run of form that has seen them win eight of their last 10 games.

Stade are unlikely to secure a home draw for the semis by finishing in the top two and might decide to rest players for the bigger battles ahead.

Sixth-placed Bayonne will hope to claim at least a bonus point from the visit of defending champions Toulouse to Stade Jean-Dauger.

Bayonne have struggled in the past two months and won only one of their last four games, but the return of Australian fly-half Manny Edmonds will boost their chances.

Jean-Baptise Elissalde is a doubt for Toulouse with a calf injury, which could result in David Skrela starting at fly-half for the south west giants.

Seventh-placed Brive, who have lost their last three after a run of five consecutive victories that set them on course for a top-six place, face Montpellier.

Brive will look to their English contingent of Andy Goode, Ben Cohen and Steve Thompson to guide them to victory. Montpellier, in ninth place, have nothing tangible to play for.

Leaders Perpignan will expect to maintain to top spot with a victory over visiting Montauban, despite a long injury list that includes Henry Tuilagi, Steve Meyer and Gerrie Britz.

The Catalans have won six of their last seven games, while Montauban have won just two in that time.

The eighth-placed club are also without injured Sylvain Jonnet, Scott Murray and Miguel Avramovic.

Clermont should have few difficulties against relegated Stade Montois and will expect to return to winning ways after losing to Perpignan last time out.

The return of Fijian wing Napolioni Nalaga and points machine Brock James will certainly help their chances.

Watch Dax v Toulouse LIVE at 19:30 on Friday evening, highlights of Perpignan v Montauban at 23:15 on Saturday and a review of all the weekend's Top 14 action at 23:30 on Sunday, ALL on British Eurosport 2.

Terence O'Rorke & / AFP