Leicester Tigers fly-half Toby Flood says he has "absolutely no idea" what to expect from France when unbeaten England host Les Bleus at Twickenham today.
Philippe Saint-Andre's side were many people's favourites for a Six Nations' grand slam this season.
But after a shock opening-day defeat in Italy, the French lost on home soil to struggling Wales a fortnight ago, meaning they will arrive in London without a win to their name.
Flood, who starts the game from the bench, with Saracens' Owen Farrell in the No.10 shirt, says the French could produce anything from the sublime to the ridiculous.
"I have absolutely no idea what to expect from the French this week," he said.
"It's an odd one. They have not won at Twickenham for so many years so, knowing them, they could come here and put 40 points on us or they could just roll over in the first half.
"We have no idea what is going on in-house there either after losing their first two games.
"It's massively hard to prepare for a game against them at the best of times because they can do anything, let alone now.
"The scariest part of preparing to play the French is that, as the 2011 World Cup proved, they could just ignore their coach, as they did with Marc Lievremont and just decide to play how they want to.
"The senior players just drove the game plan themselves.
"Things like that create a sense of the unknown when you are playing France and this weekend is no different.
"They are bright and talented footballers so who knows what they are going to produce."
Flood played a full 80 minutes for Tigers at Harlequins last week and looked in good form.
But he will have to wrestle the No.10 shirt from Farrell on national duty after the 21-year-old impressed during wins against Scotland and Ireland.
"Owen is a top lad and he wants to get better," said Flood.
Tigers prop Martin Castrogiovanni will captain Italy in today's Six Nations clash against Wales.
Castrogiovanni, who wins his 94th cap, takes over from Sergio Parisse for the game at the Stadio Olimpico, in Rome.
Parisse is serving a ban after being sent off playing for his club Stade Francais.
