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No Welsh side has beaten Toulouse on home soil, and Ebbw Vale slipped to a tournament record 108-16 defeat there in 1998, yet Noves believes Scott Gibbs' side will mount a big enough physical challenge to prevent a 10th successive home victory becoming a formality for the Frenchmen.
"While people are saying that Neath-Swansea Ospreys are the weakest side in the Pool, I am weary of such judgements. They are well-organised in defence, they have a number of World Cup players in their side and they will ask questions of our physical commitment - I am taking them very seriously," admitted Noves.
"Our defeat at Biarritz last weekend helped to get our mind back on the job. The players want to produce some entertaining rugby in front of our fans on Saturday.
"Everything is not rosy, though. Fabien Pelous has been added to our injury list, along with Isitolo Maka who took a bang to his knee in the week.
"Also out of contention are Vincent Clerc, Grgory Lamboley and Xavier Garbajosa. One player's bad luck means chances for others, but if we have any more injuries it will be very problematic."
The Ospreys are one of only three teams in the Heineken Cup yet to earn a point and have lost their last seven competitive games. Against that background they will be travelling in trepidation, rather than with confidence, to French rugby's capital city.
But at least there are a few words of encouragement for Lyn Jones' side from Irish international Trevor Brennan. He knows what it's like to face Welsh teams in the tournament and doesn't believe it will be easy for his team mates.
"I played against both Neath and Swansea when I was with Leinster and I must say I think the amalgamation of some of the Welsh clubs is a very good idea. By putting two good sides together, you have a greater pick of players who obviously produces strength in depth," said Brennan, a Heineken Cup win in his home city of Dublin last season with Toulouse.
"Wales had a good World Cup and there will be a lot of players within the Ospreys who will be brimming over with confidence after that.Jonathan Thomas particularly impressed me during the World Cup - he's a fantastic player and he stood out in that Wales team, not only as a forward but within the team as a whole.
"He is a great ball-carrier, he is good from the kick-off and our back row will have to try to stop him in his tracks on Saturday.
"Like every team, we have watched the videos and hopefully we have learned something about the team and we will try to bring that knowledge onto the pitch. The Ospreys are something of an unknown being a new team but, in the Heineken Cup, every match is different and the teams up their level of play for these games.
"Leeds were talked of as a weak team but we saw they gave us a fright on the night. I will definitely be warning the Toulouse players not to under-estimate the Ospresy - you can't just turn up, you have to turn up and play."
