Chris Paterson remains a hugely influential figure for Edinburgh © PA Photos

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Matches: Castres 21 - 16 Edinburgh

Tournaments/Tours: Heineken Cup

Teams: Castres | Edinburgh

Grounds: Stade Pierre-Antoine

After amassing just two points from their opening two fixtures in Pool 1, nothing less than victory will suffice for Edinburgh in their clash with Castres at the Stade Pierre Antoine on Saturday evening.

The Scots came out on the wrong end of an 18-17 result in Cardiff on the opening weekend before failing to build on a stirring first-half display seven days later against Northampton at Murrayfield and ultimately allowing their visitors to escape with a 31-27 win.

Castres are in a far more promising position after picking up a losing bonus point at Franklin's Gardens in round one before seeing off the Blues in impressive fashion on home soil the following weekend. Another home victory this weekend and the French will be in with a real chance of making the quarters.

Castres - Player to Watch: Samoan Josh Tatupu is handed his first start at inside centre having made his first appearance for his new club off the bench last weekend. He will no doubt be determined to mark the occasion with a strong performance.

Castres - Team News: Winger Yohan Audrin misses out after injuring his knee in the victory over Perpignan last time out and, as a result, Vincent Inigo comes into the starting line-up on the right wing. Cameron McIntyre and Alexandre Albouy are partnered once again at half-back, while Joe Tekori and Steve Malonga feature in the back-row alongside captain Chris Masoe. Kirill Kulemin and Scott Murray form a new-look second row and Benjamin Kayser will anchor the front-row at hooker.

Edinburgh - Player to Watch: Fullback Chris Paterson weighed in with eight points to help his side to a famous victory over Castres in 2008 and an equally productive display will be required this time around to keep Edinburgh's feint euro hopes alive.

Edinburgh - Team News: The Edinburgh side shows eight changes from that which lost to Ospreys last Saturday. Ben Cairns and John Houston return in the centres at the expense of Alex Grove and David Bishop, while Allan Jacobsen and Ross Ford come in for Kye Traynor and Andrew Kelly respectively, Steven Turnbull makes his first start of the season in the second row, and Scott Newlands replaces Netani Talei at blindside flanker. Greg Laidlaw steps in for the injured Mike Blair at scrum-half and Lee Jones will make his first Heineken Cup appearance on the wing.

Key Battle: Edinburgh have bolstered their front row with the return of Jacobsen and Ford but they along with Geoff Cross will need to be on top form if they are to dominate their rivals Castres rivals Luc Ducalcon, Kayser and Carl Hoeft.

Trivia: Castres have never beaten Scottish opposition in the Heineken Cup.

Stats: Edinburgh have lost their last six away games in Europe.

Quote Unquote:

"We must not forget that we missed the bonus point against Cardiff and as a result we find ourselves in a situation where we have to take the points this weekend." - Castres coach Laurent Travers

"It's great to be going to a really tough place like Castres knowing with absolute certainty that we're capable of winning there." - Edinburgh head coach Rob Moffatt talks up his side's chances.

Prediction: Castres have not lost at home this season and that record and the need to win to keep pace with pool leaders Northampton should ensure there is no repeat of Edinburgh's victory at Stade Pierre Antoine in 2008.