Falling for the second time this season, on the field of Racing 92 (27-18), the Toulouse stadium was still competitive in the absence of 11 players retained in Marcoussis with the Blues.
They will miss once again for the reception on Saturday of the promoted Perpignan, in addition to the twins Arnold in the second row, Rory in selection, Richie injured.
An opponent within the reach of the Toulouse "bis" team?
Not necessarily, if we rely on the last outing of the Catalans, victorious at La Rochelle (22-13) without their nugget Melvyn Jaminet.
To discover
Calendar and results Top 14
Ranking Top 14
Read alsoTop 14: the calendar
Two other candidates for the final phase, Lyon and the Stade Français Paris, will try to start again this weekend.
The LOU, by folding twice in a row outside, could not capitalize on its beautiful victory against Toulouse, then still undefeated.
He will have to react to a direct competitor, Castres, much more crumbly outside his bases.
The Stade Français has meanwhile seen its series of three consecutive successes end in Pau (18-9) due to an indiscipline that it will have to erase against Montpellier.
The MHR will try to extend its good momentum despite the start of the selection of its two South African internationals Cobus Reinach and Handré Pollard.
A crucial Pau-Biarritz in the fight for maintenance
The confrontation between the two Pyrenees-Atlantiques clubs, Pau and Biarritz, will be of great value in the struggle which is emerging for maintenance. Losing speed after a good start to the season, Brive needs to quickly stop the bleeding (four defeats in a row) so as not to continue falling in the standings. But the Corréziens will receive a heavyweight of the championship, Racing 92, third and carried by a 19-year-old scrum-half, Nolann Le Garrec, currently in great shape.
Sunday evening, at the end of this 10th day, Franck Azéma, the new strong man of Toulon, will lead his first match in a Marcel-Michelin stadium that he knows well for having officiated for 11 years in Clermont.
A potentially tense reunion since a financial dispute opposes the Catalan technician to his former club which claims compensation following his early departure, two years before the end of his contract.
Read alsoTop 14: no mood for Azéma before Clermont
After having had a very hectic week behind the scenes with the replacement of Patrice Collazo by Azéma, the RCT gave itself a little air with a narrow victory against Biarritz (13-9) under a deluge.
He will still have to raise his level of play to hope to bring back something from Auvergne and relaunch in the race for the Top 6.