Top 14 club Stade Francais was Cheika's last coaching stop before he joined the NSW Waratahs last year, and was probably the toughest stint of his career.
He was sacked after three years in which the club struggled with results and off-field issues but he still has fond memories and strong connections with former colleagues.
"I'd be lying if I said it wouldn't be [sweet to win in Paris]," Cheika said.
"It's always to good to have a bit of niggle when you've been somewhere and then you come back and you go up against them."
France's humiliation in June prompted an overhaul of the squad and less than half the side that lost the final match of the series in Australia has been named to start tomorrow.
The new-look side beat Fiji 40-15 last weekend.
Exciting backs Scott Spedding and Teddy Thomas were impressive in their debuts.
Cheika also believes the inclusion of internationally inexperienced five-eighths Camille Lopez could indicate a new aggressive, attacking approach from France.
"I think they've made a decision by picking Lopez about the certain type of way they want to play," he said.
"He's a great distributor of the ball and with himself and (halfback) Sebastien Tillous-Borde they'll be able to switch between playing with the backs and playing with the forward power like they do."
Cheika made only one change from the starting side which beat Wales 33-28 in his first test in charge in Cardiff last week, bringing in former skipper Horwill to replace Sam Carter.
The coach finalised his eight-man bench on Thursday.
Playmaker Quade Cooper has been restored to the squad and Cheika indicated he would get his chance to impress off the bench.
"[Cooper] was unfortunate not to get a run on off the bench last week because I decided to go with [six forwards and two backs] but it's a different challenge this week and that's what I think we might need come the end of the game," he said.
"While I'm here I need to learn about guys and see them in different situations."
AAP
