Romain Ntamack will partner Toulouse teammate Antoine Dupont in the halves for France in their opening Nations Championship Test on home soil against Fiji, coach Fabien Galthie announced on Thursday.
It will be the first time that the pair line up together for France since March 2025, with each one having suffered injuries since then.
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"They are two top players who have won a lot with our team since 2020," said Galthie, who highlighted the benefit of the pair being club team-mates.
"Collective experience is important at this level and they have that, even though they haven't played much recently for France."
Scrum-half Dupont, 29, tore his cruciate knee ligament against Ireland in the 2025 Six Nations and when he returned to the national team in the following season's tournament, Ntamack, 27, was out injured.
In their absence, Bordeaux-Begles pair Maxime Lucu and Matthieu Jalibert, who is currently injured, had mostly lined up in the number nine and 10 jerseys.
It will be the 30th time that Dupont and Ntamack, aligned regularly at club level with Toulouse, match up as scrum-half and fly-half.
Galthie is missing a string of key players, mostly from Toulouse, including fullback Thomas Ramos, hooker Julien Marchand, locks Emmanuel Meafou and Thibault Flament, and back-rower Anthony Jelonch.
Toulouse's Kalvin Gourgues is given his first start at centre, while tight-head prop Sipili Falatea and back-rower Cameron Woki make their first starts for Les Bleus since 2021 and 2023 respectively.
Francois Cros, normally a blindside flanker, was named at No.8, with Florian Verhaeghe and Mickael Guillard packing down in the second row.
Fiji's South African head coach Jake White named nine French-based players in his starting XV for Saturday's clash in Lyon, with another two on the bench.
Amongst those is Racing 92's former England forward Nathan Hughes, who starts at No.8.
Six of their seven backs play in France, including Jiuta Wainiqolo, the most potent finisher in the Top 14 last season.
"First and foremost, the Fijians have exceptional individual talent," said Galthie.
"We see it every weekend in our championship with their ability to surprise and be unpredictable.
"They love one-on-one duels, they're powerful, they're skillful... they're often the best players in their team, or the best finishers."
He added: "They are spectacular players and it will be a spectacular match."
France will host South Africa six days after playing Fiji and conclude their group stage campaign against Argentina on November 21, with both matches at the Stade de France.
Les Bleus head up the northern hemisphere standings going into the business end of the Nations Championship, with Scotland, England and Ireland snapping at their heels.
France's sole loss in the opening away fixtures in July was a two-point defeat by New Zealand. Galthie's side followed that up by twice scoring 42 points in wins over Australia and Japan.
Fiji, meanwhile, are bottom of the southern hemisphere table having lost their opening three matches, including a 73-8 drubbing by England.
Theo Attissogbe; Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang, Kalvin Gourgues, Yoram Moefana, Louis Bielle-Biarrey; Romain Ntamack, Antoine Dupont (capt); Francois Cros, Cameron Woki, Paul Boudehent; Mickael Guillard, Florian Verhaeghe; Sipili Falatea, Maxime Lamothe, Jean-Baptiste Gros
Replacements: Peato Mauvaka, Jefferson Poirot, Regis Montagne, Charles Ollivon, Tom Staniforth, Esteban Capilla, Maxime Lucu, Emilien Gailleton
Salesi Rayasi; Selestino Ravutaumada, Iosefo Masi, Vinaya Habosi, Jiuta Wainiqolo; Isikeli Rabitu, Simione Kuruvoli; Nathan Hughes, Kitione Salawa, Pita-Gus Sowakula; Isoa Nasilasila, Mesake Vocevoce; Luke Tagi, Tevita Ikanivere (capt), Eroni Mawi
Replacements: Zuriel Togiatama, Peni Ravai, Inoke Ravuiwasa, Peceli Yato, Elia Canakaivata, Frank Lomani, Ben Volavola, Sireli Maqala
