However he has been out of action since a European Cup semi-final defeat to Leinster three week ago with a knee injury.

With Clermont already through to the semi-finals of the Top 14, Buttin will have an extra week to recover from the knock, while fellow back three players Lee Byrne and Julien Malzieu are also expected to return for the clash against the winners of the Toulon-Racing Metro quarter-final on Saturday.

Malzieu, who scored on his return to international action during the RBS 6 Nations against Italy, is on the comeback trail from a calf strain Byrne has now recovered from an ankle injury.

Clermont coach Vern Cotter will therefore have virtually a full squad available to him for the semi-final now that prop Thomas Domingo is back from consecutive ACL injuries which have kept him out of the game for more than a year.