Bristol head coach Richard Hill has named a settled side for Friday's crucial Heineken Cup match against Stade Francais in Paris.

After the Premiership win at home to Saracens last Sunday, Hill's only change in the XV is to move Darren Crompton from tighthead to loosehead, with Jason Hobson coming in at tighthead.

Bristol are level on points with Cardiff Blues at the top of Heineken Cup Pool 3 with Stade Francais a further three points behind so there is all to play for with just rounds five and six remaining.

Cardiff Blues take on Harlequins in the other pool match this weekend which sets up a possible "winner takes all" scenario next weekend when the Blues go to Bristol.

Stade though, will be without fly-half star Juan Martin Hernandez against Bristol due to a knee injury, and his planned deputy David Skrela faces a late fitness test, so Lionel Beauxis is on stand-by.

On the Bristol replacements bench, Redford Pennycook comes in as Bristol go for five forwards.

David Hill returns to the matchday 22 with two 'foreigners' allowed in European competition and Graeme Beveridge is named as the replacement scrum-half.

Bristol defeated Stade 17-0 in the reverse fixture at the Memorial Stadium back in November and Hill's men are aware the Parisians will be looking for revenge.

"I can name pretty much an unchanged team as we came through unscathed against Saracens which is very unusual at this level," said Hill.

"With our away record, and Stade's home record, you'd put a lot of money on Stade! However, confidence is growing in our squad and at this stage I don't think they're daunted by the prospect of going to Paris."

"The French are a different proposition at home. They don't travel well but they're a different animal altogether at home.

"They will automatically assume they well win at home because of their fantastic home record.

"I think they were pretty upset to lose at our place and particularly disappointed the way we outplayed them up front. I think our forwards will have a tough time out there.

"But our pack will be up for it, It'll be lively for sure.

"It's exciting because we're still in the mix. No-one would have thought that we'd be topping the group after four games.

"This game now really means something and that's very important. It's been a very difficult selection this week."

Bristol team, v Stade Francais, Friday:

Luke Arscott; Tom Arscott, Rob Higgitt, Neil Brew, David Lemi; Jason Strange, Brian O'Riordan; Darren Crompton, Mark Regan, Jason Hobson; Roy Winters, Sean Hohneck; Matt Salter (capt), Joe El Abd, Andrew Blowers.

Replacements:
Scott Linklater, Alex Clarke, Dave Attwood, Alfie To'oala, Redford Pennycook, Graeme Beveridge, David Hill.