NEWPORT'S Heineken Cup crunch at the home of French rugby kings Toulouse a week tomorrow is to be shown live on national French television.

Because of that the kick off has been brought forward to 3pm (2pm GMT).

There are more significant matches in France on the day, like Perpignan against Munster in Pool 2, but French TV have gone for the Toulouse-Newport game.

Toulouse are way out ahead at the top of Pool Five and if they beat Newport will qualify as group winners with a guaranteed home draw in the quarter-finals with a match still to play.

Toulouse will really go for it against Newport, who will be very hard pressed just to keep the score down.

The Frenchmen scored 80 points in their back-to-back games against Edinburgh, and the Scottish team beat Newport comfortably at Meadowbank.

Toulouse won the Rodney Parade encounter 34-19 in October, though they were more hard pressed in their opener against London Irish, winning 28-23.

Leading the way in the try scoring stakes is new French wing sensation Vincent Clerc, an absolute flier with four tries in the Heineken Cup and five more in the championship.

French players have won the right to a 10-day Christmas and New Year break, so Toulouse last played against Mont de Marsan on December 21 when they won 36-11.

They have a friendly against Montauban tomorrow.

The capacity of their Stade Ernest Wallon has been increased by 6,000 to 18,000 with the opening of a new stand, and they had 15,000 for their last Heineken match against Edinburgh.

Newport's European squad has shrunk with the decision of Matt Pini to retire and the loss of Andrew Wagstaff for the season with damaged knee ligaments.

There are also injury doubts about Jason Jones-Hughes (hamstring), Matt Mostyn (groin) and Rod Snow (hamstring) while Percy Montgomery and Alex Cadwallader are not eligible for the competition.

Promising back row forward Rhys Jones, returned from sevens duty with Wales in Dubai and Durban, could get his chance as coach Leigh Jones starts to put the emphasis on younger players.