Stade Toulousain’s preparations for the new season have taken a serious knock following news that fly-half Frédéric Michalak could miss the first two rounds of Top 14.

The discarded French international had been in impressive form at No 10 during the club’s pre-season friendlies, but is now set for a three-week lay-off due to a torn hamstring.

Top 14 Table / Top 14 Transfers / ProD2 Transfers / Top 14 Fixtures 2009/10 / Pre-season friendlies

Michalak will undergo MRI scans on Wednesday to confirm the extent of his injury, but his absence is a further headache for coach Guy Noves. Both David Skrela and Jean-Baptiste Elissalde – his two other fly-half choices – are also currently sidelined, with Skrela not expected back before Christmas.

The injury is also a blow to Michalak, who appeared to be more settled in the absence of Skrela and Elissalde after a testing first season back following his spell in South Africa. Indeed, it was announced on the day that Midi Olympique headlined their front page, somewhat prosaically, ‘Michalak - Le Second Soufflé’.

The 26-year-old failed to nail down a starting slot last year and was often shifted between fly-half and scrum-half as the situation demanded. He was also overlooked by Marc Lièvremont for France’s summer tour to New Zealand and Australia, prompting speculation of a move to Bayonne.

But for now the dilemma is Noves’, as Michalak joins a crock list already featuring Elissalde, Skrela and French centre Yannick Jauzion.

Montpellier, who were hammered 41-3 in their opening pre-season friendly by Stade Toulousain, bounced back with a 12-5 win over Sale Sharks in the Challenge Armand Vaquerin on Sunday.

The French side opened the scoring with a penalty before Sale’s Charlie Hodgson touched down for the opening try of the match at Millau. A second Montpellier kick saw them lead 6-5 at half-time, and two further penalties sealed the win after the break.

The other match in the Challenge Armand Vaquerin saw ProD2’s RC Narbonne go down 18-3 to Romania, also in Millau. Narbonne’s Jeandrie Fourie and Brandon Hegarty were both injured during the game and are now likely to miss Saturday’s game against Montpellier. Narbonne should, however, be strengthened by the returns of prop Jérémy Castex, hooker Saunier Vuli, flanker Nic Strauss, centres Sau Salavas and Karne Kaufana, as well as winger Roman Martial.

Toulon’s weekend win over Racing-Métro 92 has come at a cost, with Australian Luke Rooney nursing a shoulder injury and winger Jérémy Sinzelle suffering a broken nose.

Perpignan duo Jerome Porical and Jean-Pierre Perez are also on the crock list following weekend action. Both have been told to rest for seven days after picking up hip and elbow injuries respectively in their 17-0 defeat to AC Brumbies on Friday.

Racing-Métro new signing Fabien Fortassin believes the squad’s togetherness will help them survive in Top 14 this season following promotion from ProD2.

The former Montauban player said he had settled in well with the Paris club since his summer move and said their aim was to “compete with the best”.

English defensive guru Dave Ellis has quit Brive to join London Irish in the Guinness Premiership. Ellis will continue to work as defensive coach with the French national team, but has returned to England on a day-to-day basis after spells with both Brive and Castres.

Dax coach Thomas Lièvremont conceded his squad still has much work to do following their weekend 35-3 loss to Castres.

The former Top 14 side will start this season as one of the favourites for promotion from ProD2, but Lièvremont knows there can be no relaxing. “Relegation left a big frustration,” he told rugbyrama. “But now we must move on. We begin another season, we set new goals,” he added.

“We have to set a goal to be a semi-finalist, so to finish in the top five places. Then we’ll see. The club is under reconstruction at all levels,” said Lièvremont.

The brother of France’s head coach – Marc – admitted his maiden season in charge had proved a steep learning curve last year, but is relishing the battle ahead as Dax seek to regain their place at the top table.

“I certainly made mistakes last year and I must correct them. You always arrive with your own convictions but you must also adapt to improve. This human dimension is the most complicated to manage but I will try to do it the best I can. In terms of methods one learns with time and we try to erase what has not worked so as to progress,” he reasoned.