ASM Clermont Auvergne will make a record third appearance in a European Challenge Cup final with six players hoping to erase the memory of their one-point defeat by NEC Harlequins in the 2004 final at the Madejski Stadium.

Champions in 1999, Clermont were pipped 27-26 five years on by Quins, when a last-gasp try by  Stephen Keogh won the game for the English side.

There are four survivors behind the scrum from that 2004 defeat – fullback Anthony Floch, skipper and wing Aurélien Rougerie, centre Tony Mash and scrum-half Pierre Mignoni.


Up front, French internationals Thibaut Privat and Elvis Vermeulen are survivors.


Centre Raphael Chanel,  who picked up a red card in 2004 after two yellows, is included among the replacements. Prop Martin Scelzo is hoping to add to the Heineken Cup winners medal he earned with Northampton Saints in Twickenham in 2000.


Clermont beat Bath over two legs on the road to that 2004 final. Having lost 29-15 at the Recreation ground in the first semi-final encounter they booked their place in the final with a 38-22 in the second leg.

ASM Clermont Auvergne: A Floch; A Rougerie (capt), G Esterhuizen, T Marsh, J Malzieu; B James, P Mignoni; L Emmanuelli, M Ledesma, M Scelzo, J Cudmore, T Privat, S Broomhall, M Dieude, E Vermeulen
Replacements: B Miguel, G Shvelidze, L Jacquet, G Longo, A Troncon, S Bai, R Chanal