The mercurial 24-year-old will start for Les Bleus for the first time since March 2006 when he takes the field against the world champions in Marseille.
A catalogue of injury problems over the past year have checked the progression of Michalak, who now has rivals for the France number 10 jersey in the form of David Skrela and Lionel Beauxis.
But the man who will play for South African outfit the Sharks in the Super 14 next season feels under no pressure.
"Competition is always there, in all sports. You can't escape it," he said.
"I don't feel I have to prove something at any price. There are plans put in place by the coaches, and I am just responding to them and trying to be defensively and offensively efficient.
"For us, me and (scrum-half) Jean-Baptiste (Elissalde), it is important we do that.
"I am confident in this team and am confident in my abilities. I feel good physically - I just need to play, to touch the ball.
"It is really on the pitch where you take most pleasure in rugby. Training is fine, but being on the pitch is the most important thing.
"I have hardly played since my knee injury (sustained in November last year) and I have to find my game."
Michalak and Elissalde were two of nine current Toulouse players selected in the starting XV for this weekend.
Eight changes were made in all to the XV that claimed a smash-and-grab 21-15 victory at Twickenham last Saturday in the first match of the double-header against England.
Michalak and Elissalde replace Skrela and Pierre Mignoni at half-back while the back row is completely dismantled, with Yannick Nyanga, Thierry Dusautoir and Imanol Harinordoquy earning starts.
Elsewhere, Yannick Jauzion comes in at centre - as a replacement for David Marty - after recovering from a back problem, and experienced duo Cedric Heymans and Christophe Dominici are named on the wings.
Fabien Pelous retains his place in the second row alongside Jerome Thion and will make his 112th Les Bleus appearance, breaking the national record currently held by the great Philippe Sella.
France play Wales in Cardiff next Saturday in their final friendly before taking on Argentina less than a fortnight later in the opening match of the World Cup.
