The Coupe de France reaches the quarter-final stage in midweek as Toulouse welcome Rodez AF to the Toulouse Stadium on Wednesday night.
Toulouse are 11th in Ligue 1 whilst their visitors are bottom of Ligue 2.
Match preview
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Philippe Montanier's Toulouse have been in terrific form in 2023, winning eight of their 12 games in all competitions since the turn of the year.
The Violets have scored 32 goals in 2023 with Sunday's defeat to Reims being the only game in their last 16 matches in which they have failed to score at least one goal.
Despite being well clear of relegation danger in Ligue 1, back-to-back defeats to Marseille and Reims respectively, have stunted their progress - Toulouse are now five points adrift of the top half.
Toulouse's leaky defence will be a concern for Montanier, with the Violets having conceded at least once in each of their last seven games including six goals in their last two matches.
Montanier's side have enjoyed themselves in the Coupe de France this season - their run to the quarter-final included a 7-1 thrashing of fifth-tier Lannion. Toulouse also inflicted Reims' only defeat in 17 games when they triumphed 3-1 at the Toulouse Stadium in the last round.
Toulouse have never won this competition and doing so this season would validate the progress they have made under Montanier since he took over the second-tier Violets in 2021.
Didier Santini's Rodez are enduring a dreadful season - the Blood and Golds are bottom of Ligue 2 and are five points adrift of safety.
Rodez are on a six-game winless streak in the league with their last match being a 1-1 draw at home to Nimes on Sunday.
Clement Depres has been Rodez's main attacking threat this season with seven goals and two assists in 23 Ligue 2 appearances. The striker is yet to score in the Coupe de France this season, however, and Wednesday's trip to Toulouse would be a good game in which to break his duck.
Santini's side have at least found some respite from their league struggles in this competition. Rodez have knocked out three top-tier sides on their way to Wednesday's quarter-final, with penalty shootout victories away at Monaco and Saint-Etienne particular highlights.
The Blood and Golds triumphed 3-2 away at Auxerre in the last round and will be eyeing a fourth upset against Toulouse.
The visitors will be buoyed by their fine recent record against Wednesday's opponents - Rodez are unbeaten in three matches against Toulouse and beat them 1-0 when the sides last met in Ligue 2 last season.
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Team News
Toulouse striker Rhys Healey will again be sidelined on Wednesday night as he is recovering from a cruciate ligament injury.
Philippe Montanier is not expected to make too many changes from the weekend so Thijs Dallinga will again lead the line in a 4-3-3 system.
Moussa Diarra was an unused substitute against Reims after returning from injury, and he may be in line to start against Rodez.
Rodez will be without centre-back Loris Mouyokolo against Toulouse after he ruptured his Achilles tendon. Joris Chougrani, Aymen Abdennour and Eric Vandenabeele will make up Rodez's back three in their 3-4-1-2 system.
Left-back Amiran Sanaia is receiving treatment for cancer so Louis Torres will play at left wing-back in his place.
Toulouse possible starting lineup:
Dupe; Desler, Rouault, Nicolaisen, Diarra; Spierings, Dejaegere, Van den Boomen; Aboukhlal, Dallinga, Ratao
Rodez AF possible starting lineup:
Cibois; Vandenabeele, Abdennour, Chougrani; Senaya, Rajot, Boissier, Torres; Adeline; Corredor, Depres
We say: Toulouse 3-0 Rodez AF
Despite their shaky recent defensive record, Dallinga and Branco van den Boomen in the Toulouse side will surely be too much for their struggling Ligue 2 opponents to cope with. The hosts will be very confident of snapping their losing run and booking a place in the semi-final.
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Top tip
Ollie Hawthorn
