Clermont Auvergne, one of the favourites for this season's Heineken Cup, know they have to beat Italians Aironi at home to re-establish their credentials after the opening weekend of the tournament.
The French side, who made a raft of big-name signings in the summer, suffered a 16-11 defeat to Ulster in Belfast last weekend but did manage to get what could be a vital losing bonus point.
Clermont Auvergne, who reached three Heineken Cup quarter-finals, have an impressive record at the Stade Marcel Michelin and have won their last eight games at home in Europe.
Aironi, who recorded one of the biggest upsets in Heineken Cup history with their win over Biarritz last season, will want another French scalp when they arrive in France on Friday evening.
The Italian new boys, who are only in their second season of Heineken Cup rugby, managed a creditable 28-12 defeat to former champions of Europe Leicester Tigers at home.
Aironi, who still waiting for their first away win in the tournament, managed to stop the double champions from registering a bonus-point victory when the two sides met in Italy last weekend.
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