Stade Francais have lost Agustin Pichot for tomorrow's Heineken European Cup quarter-final against Munster at Thomond Park.
The pivotal Argentine scrumhalf has been unable to train since injuring his back in last weekend's French league win over Pau and has been ruled out of the trip to Limerick.
Gregory Mahe, who played in the pool games against Ulster and Gwent Dragons, will take his place but coach Nick Mallett could not disguise his disappointment at losing Pichot.
"Pichot's absence is a big blow for us but we're not going to dwell on it," said the South African. "Gregory has played in this competition already this season and went well."
Wing Raphael Poulain has also been forced to pull out of the starting line-up with a calf strain and must wait to see if he is passed fit enough to take a place on the bench. Centre Thomas Lombard moves to the wing.
However, Stade, finalists in 2001, still feature five of France's Grand Slam squad: props Sylvain Marconnet and Pieter De Villiers, wing Christophe Dominici, centre Brian Liebenberg and captain David Auradou.
They also include Argentina full back Ignacio Corleto, Canada lock Mike James and abrasive former France backrower Patrick Tabacco.
This will be the fourth time the sides have met in five years, Munster claiming two victories at this stage either side of the Parisians' one win, 16-15, in the 2001 semi-final in Lille.
STADE FRANCAIS: I Corleto; T Lombard, JM Hernandez, B Liebenberg, C Dominici; D Dominguez, G Mahe; S Marconnet, B August, P De Villiers, D Auradou, M James, P Tabacco, P Rabadan, R Martin. Replacements: M Blin, P Lemoine, A Marchois, C Moni, R Poulain/S Glas, D Skrela, I Vass.
l Allen Clarke has been named Ulster assistant coach. He joins new head coach Mark McCall in a new management team for next season.
The 36-year-old Dungannon-born hooker won eight Ireland caps and played with Northampton from 1993 to 1998. He was a member of Ulster's European Cup-winning side in 1999 but was forced into early retirement by an ankle injury.
He was made assistant coach of Ireland's under-19s this year.
Another Ulster stalwart, Tony McWhirter (29), announced his retirement from rugby yesterday. The number eight has been nursing a hand injury that if aggravated could compromise his career in dentistry.
McWhirter has 94 Ulster caps, was capped eight times for Ireland A, and captained the under-21 side that won the Triple Crown in 1996.