Back-row Francois Cros will play his first match since suffering a groin injury when France take on Fiji Water Flying Fijians in their penultimate Rugby World Cup warm-up.

There were initially some concerns over the flanker’s World Cup chances after the Toulouse man sustained the injury in training.

Cros missed the double-header with Scotland but will make his return against the Pacific Islanders where he will start alongside Dylan Cretin and captain Gregory Alldritt in a strong loose trio.

With head coach Fabien Galthie naming his 33-man squad next week, it is a last opportunity for the players to impress.

Emilien Gailleton is the big omission with the young centre missing out on this weekend’s 23 altogether.

It suggests that Gailleton has not made the final cut with Arthur Vincent taking his place at outside centre for this game.

There is better news for fellow 20-year-old Louis Bielle-Biarrey, who starts at wing, and he is joined in the back three by Melvyn Jaminet and Yoram Moefana.

The inclusion of Moefana is another sign that Gailleton could miss out, with the Bordeaux-Begles player’s greater versatility giving him an edge over the Pau youngster.

Elsewhere in the backline, the performance of fly-half Antoine Hastoy will be watched closely given the World Cup-ending injury to Romain Ntamack

Up front, Paul Willemse starts his first game since April after suffering a knee injury which kept him out for almost four months.

He made his return off the bench against Scotland and, after coming through that match unscathed, the 30-year-old partners Florian Verhaeghe at lock.

Those two will add plenty of power behind the front-row unit of Uini Atonio, Peato Mauvaka and Reda Wardi.

Meanwhile, on the bench, tighthead prop Thomas Laclayat is in line for his debut after replacing the injured Demba Bamba in the wider squad.

Pierre Bourgarit, Jean-Baptiste Gros, Bastien Chalureau, Thibaud Flament, Sekou Macalou, Baptiste Serin and Matthieu Jalibert are the other replacements.