TOULOUSE'S CUP RECORD 1995/6: Winners 1996/7: Semi-final 1997/8: Semi-final 1998/9: Quarter-final 1999/2000: Semi-final 2000/1: Group stages 2001/2: Group stages

Toulouse go into Saturday's Heineken Cup final as overwhelming favourites to lift the crown for a second time after their triumph in 1996.

They face Perpignan in the first French final in the tournament's history.

Among those backing Toulouse to win is Dean Richards, the Leicester director of rugby who led his side to victory 12 months ago.

"I think Toulouse have more of a balanced side than Perpignan, and their backs can be deadly as well," he said.

"If things start to go their way, then they have the ability to carve up the Perpignan side."

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On paper, it is hard to argue against Toulouse, who boast an array of impressive internationals.

In the backs, there are Xavier Garbajosa, Frederik Michalak, Emile Ntamack and Clement Poitrenaud, while their pack includes Yannick Bru and Fabien Pelous.

Added to that, Toulouse have an exemplary record in European rugby.

PERPIGNAN'S CUP RECORD 1995/6: n/a 1996/7: n/a 1997/8: n/a 1998/9: Semi-final 1999/2000: n/a 2000/1: n/a 2001/2: Group stages

They have qualified for the tournament every season since its inception and have only twice failed to reach the knock-out stages.

Perpignan, in contrast, are only playing in the tournament for the third time, reaching the semi-finals in 1999, the year English clubs were absent.

Unlike Toulouse, they do not have the same list of internationals but have flourished on team spirit and the creativity of Australian fly-half Manny Edmonds.

They have, however, been boosted by the news that their rivals will be missing several key players.

Scrum-half Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, Toulouse's regular goalkicker, has torn a thigh muscle, prop Patrice Collazo has lost his fitness battle, and full-back Nicolas Jeanjean is definitely out after aggravating an old shoulder injury.

Both teams, though, have already come unstuck in this year's tournament.

I think on the day, it will be quite a comfortable win Conor O'Shea tips Toulouse

Perpignan slipped up against both Munster and Gloucester in the group stages, while London Irish got the better of Toulouse.

Despite the Exiles' win, the club's director of rugby Conor O'Shea is adamant where his money lies for the final.

"I think Toulouse will win. We played them twice this year, and I think they have more threats," he said.

"The two packs are quite evenly matched, but I just think that Toulouse are a team full of big-match players, and this is the Heineken Cup final, which has a tradition in that club.

"I think on the day, it will be quite a comfortable win. They just have too many game-breakers."

Perpignan: J-M Souverbie; P Bomati, P Giordani, C Manas, F Cermeno; M Edmonds, L Loustau; R Peillard, M Konieckiewicz, N Mas, J Thion, R Alvarez-Kairelis, G Le Corvec, B Goutta (capt), P Murphy.
Replacements: M Dal Maso, S De Besombes, C Porcu, L Mallier, J Basset, N Laharrague, D Marty.

Toulouse: C Poitrenaud; E Ntamack, X Garbajosa, Y Jauzion, V Clerc; Y Delaigue, F Michalak; B Lecouls, Y Bru, J-B Poux, D Gerard, F Pelous (capt), T Brennan, J Bouilhou, C Labit.
Replacements: C Soulette, W Servat, G Lamboley, F Maka, S Dupuy, C Heymans, C Desbrosse.