There will be battles being fought out all over the St James’ Park pitch on May 10 when ASM Clermont Auvergne and La Rochelle contest the European Rugby Challenge Cup final. Here we pick out five that may be of particular significance, with the Clermont player named first: Damian Penaud v Arthur Retiere French international Penaud has really come into his own in the knockout stages of the Challenge Cup, scoring four tries with his mixture of power and pace, including a hat-trick in the quarter-final win over Northampton Saints to earn the man-of-the-match award. The 22-year-old also made the most metres in the semi-final success against Harlequins. Retiere gives away 17kg to Penaud in weight and is in fact listed as a scrum-half or full-back on the La Rochelle website, but he starred on the left wing in the semi-final triumph against Sale Sharks and has two tries to his name in four Challenge Cup appearances this season, plus a man-of-the-match award in the Round 6 win against Zebre Rugby Club. Morgan Parra v Alexi Balès Parra is a hugely experienced international scrum-half with 71 France caps to his name plus 370 Test points. The 30-year-old has played only four Challenge Cup games this season, but crucially they have largely been in Clermont’s most recent games and he was man of the match in the semi-final victory against Harlequins, when he scored half Clermont’s 32 points. Balès can kick goals as well, but that task generally falls on fly-half Ihaia West’s shoulders, leaving the 28-year-old to marshal his giant, mobile pack, which he does with aplomb. La Rochelle’s chance of securing victory in Newcastle will surely depend on Balès being able to give Parra a hard time at the base of the scrum. [jwplayer 0S5p7hLx] Rabah Slimani v Dany Priso This front-row tussle between the experienced Slimani, aged 29 with 50 caps, and rising French hope Priso, four years younger and capped 13 times, should be worth the entrance money alone. Slimani, who can prop either side of the scrum but prefers the tight head, will need all his experience to quell the enthusiasm of loose-head specialist Priso and win his second Challenge Cup winners’ medal after his success with Stade Français Paris in 2017. Sébastien Vahaamahina v Romain Sazy La Rochelle’s hopes will also hinge on who rules the line-out. Clermont would appear to have a significant advantage here, with Vahaamahina having won 40 caps for France, as well as being younger, taller and heavier than Sazy. But the 32-year-old La Rochelle vice-captain is one of director of rugby Jono Gibbes’ main men up front, having played in seven of their eight matches en route to the final. [jwplayer 2qr45ANR] Peceli Yato v Victor Vito With Clermont No.8 Fritz Lee ruled out of the final, Yato could be the beneficiary – and what a replacement to have. The 26-year-old Fijian international has scored five tries in four Challenge Cup outings this term and was man of the match in the Round 5 win over Northampton Saints. If Yato does play at No.8, there promises to be a battle royale there, with La Rochelle’s player in that position being 32-year-old two-time World Cup winner and club captain Victor Vito, who won 33 caps for New Zealand before quitting international rugby.