Perpignan Aiming To Get Back On Track

Before the break in club competition in France for the autumn internationals, Perpignan had lost three championship matches on the bounce - as well as a disappointing defeat to Munster in Round 2 of the Heineken Cup.

In an attempt to reverse the slide, club president Marcel Dagrenat dispensed with the services of newly recruited assistant coach Jean-Francois Beltran - Leaving Olivier Saisset in sole charge of the club's coaching setup.

And Saisset says the fortunes of the club are about to change.

"Before there was a lack of communication between the forwards and backs, now the squad has found new points of reference," Saisset said.

"The game plans are well defined. The players are saying that there are less uncertainties. When we work a move, everyone knows where we are going.

"In the friendly against Grenoble, we were in our element. There were less dropped passes and more consistency. We took our chances well.

"Although we conceded two tries at the start of the game, we reacted well and stuck together as a team. It was the kind of match we needed to get us back on the right road.

"For Pau we are going to keep things simple and do what we know how to do. All four wheels of the USAP engine are now back in working order, not just two or three."

Perpignan's break from club rugby means that almost all players are now fit for selection.

Hooker Michel Konieckiewicz is back after missing six months' rugby due to a serious calf injury, prop Renaud Peillard has recovered from tendonitis in his ankle and Marc Dal Maso's shoulder is back to full strength.

The slight tear in Jerome Thion's Achilles has repaired and Pascal Meya no longer feels any pain in his shoulder.

Perpignan have back to back battles with English Premiership high flyers Gloucester in Rounds 3 and 4 of the Heineken Cup.