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Castres like to play risk-free rugby, kicking more than any other side in the competition, while Benetton possess an exciting attack that they'll hope to unleash on Saturday afternoon.
Castres like to play risk-free rugby, kicking more than any other side in the competition, while Benetton possess an exciting attack that they'll hope to unleash on Saturday afternoon.
The French side's pragmatism has served them well this season, finishing second in Pool 3 and earning themselves a favourable home round of 16 tie. Castres have also performed well in the Top 14, currently lying fifth.
Benetton are seventh in the URC and finished third in a difficult Pool 2 which comprised of Leinster, La Rochelle, Clermont, Bath and Bristol Bears.
Contrast in styles
Castres have averaged a competition-high 34.3 kicks in play per outing this season with 937 kick in play metres, which ranks second.
Almost half of Castres' possessions have ended with kicks (45.6%), and they have also opted for the shot at goal more than any other team when awarded a penalty in the opposition half (34.5%).
Lorenzo Cannone made the second-most post-contact metres in Benetton's Round 4 victory over La Rochelle, a total of 32, while he also made a clean break and 19 tackles.
Benetton have a resolute defence that has made an average of 32.5 dominant collisions per 80 minutes so far this season (4th), including 11.3 dominant tackles per outing (4th).
The Italian side have beaten the fourth-most defenders in the Champions Cup, an average of 27.3 per 80 match.
Previous meeting
The two sides last faced off way back in January 2007 when Castres beat Benetton 41-20.
Castres Olympique Starting XV (1-15) Quentin Walcker, Gaetan Barlot, Will Collier, Paul Jedrasiak, Florent Vanverberghe, Mathieu Babillot, Gauthier Maravat, Abraham Papalii, Santiago Arata Perrone, Louis le Brun, Rémy Baget, Andrea Cocagi, Adrien Seguret, Christian Ambadiang, Theo Chabouni
Castres Olympique Replacements (16-23) Loris Zarantonello, Lois Guerois-Galisson, Aurelien Azar, Leone Nakarawa, Baptiste Delaporte, Jeremy Fernandez, Jack Goodhue, Nathanael Hulleu
Benetton Treviso Starting XV (1-15) Thomas Gallo, Bautista Bernasconi, Simone Ferrari, Scott Scrafton, Eli Snyman, Riccardo Favretto, Manuel Zuliani, Lorenzo Cannone, Andy Uren, Tomas Albornoz, Paolo Odogwu, Nacho Brex, Tommaso Menoncello, Ignacio Mendy, Rhyno Smith
Benetton Treviso Replacements (16-23) Siua Maile, Mirco Spagnolo, Giosue Zilocchi, Federico Ruzza, Michele Lamaro, Alessandro Garbisi, Jacob Umaga, Malakai Fekitoa