Bayonne will welcome back Les Bleus flanker Alexandre Fischer for Friday night’s Investec Champions Cup opener against the Stormers.

Fischer had been sidelined for a month after suffering an injury against Montauban in early November, but the former Clermont forward has resumed full training and looks set to bolster a Bayonne back row already stretched by injuries and squad rotation.

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The French side, sitting fifth in the Top 14 after a solid domestic start, will also hand Argentine prop Ignacio Calles his first start since recovering from an early-season injury. The international made his debut off the bench against Lyon last weekend and has trained with the probable starting XV this week.

Bayonne coach Grégory Patat has granted holidays to three key players – Esteban Capilla, Sireli Maqala and Emerick Setiano – with Cheikh Tiberghien set to follow next week as the club manages a congested fixture list and a bulging medical room.

“Despite everything, I think I will be able to field a very competitive team against the Stormers,” Patat said after Saturday’s win over Lyon.

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One of the subplots involves scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies, who endured a difficult outing against Lyon but is expected to start against his former teammates The Springbok spent seven seasons at the Stormers before moving to France and will be desperate to impress.

Tom Spring looks set to partner Jantjies at flyhalf, with regular starters Joris Segonds and Gareth Anscombe absent from Tuesday’s training session. The Bayonne coaching staff have been keen to give Spring more game time at ten, and Friday’s European curtain-raiser may provide the perfect opportunity.

The Stormers arrive in the Basque Country as URC log-leaders after a perfect six-from-six start to their domestic campaign.

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Photo: Warren Little/Getty Images