Fly-half Joris Segonds kicked all Stade Francais' points as they stretched their lead at the summit of the French Top 14 on Saturday with a sluggish 12-10 win at struggling Montpellier.
Frenchman Segonds, 26, slotted three penalties and a drop-goal in greasy conditions to move seven points clear of the second-placed champions Toulouse.
Montpellier and their director of rugby Bernard Laporte remain in 13th and the relegation playoff spot with their 12th defeat in 20 league games this season.
Later, Racing 92 warm-up for next weekend's Champions Cup last 16 tie with Toulouse by facing Clermont, with South Africa's Siya Kolisi expected to make his return from injury next Sunday.
Lyon in 12th welcome Bordeaux-Begles and 11th-placed Perpignan head to Castres knowing wins could put further pressure on Montpellier, champions in 2022.
Toulouse's France fly-half Romain Ntamack is set for his first game since August after recovering from a serious knee injury as he is on the bench to face Pau.
French rugby's poster boy Antoine Dupont starts in the number 10 shirt for the holders.
On Sunday, Bayonne take a sixth league game to fellow Basque city San Sebastian in northern Spain and play Toulon.