Rene Girard has opted for Souleymane Camara to link up with Olivier Giroud in Montpellier HSC's forward line.
Karim Ait-Fana drops to the bench for the home match - otherwise La Pallaide are unchanged.
Banel Nicolita starts in midfield for the visitors, with former Liverpool striker Florent Sinama-Pongolle partnering Pierre-Emerick Aubamyang in attack.
Montpellier: Jourdren, Bocaly, Yanga-Mbiwa, Hilton, Bedimo, Stambouli, Belhanda, Saihi, Utaka, Giroud, Camara
St Etienne: Ruffier, Marchal, Mignot, Ghoulam, Ebondo, Clement, Guilavogui, Nicolita, Sako, Aubamyang, Sinama-Pongolle
