4wd to 2wd, how to remove rear differential

I still have not yet replaced my propshaft Guibo coupling due to the need to either push the engine forward or move the rear diff rearward to drop the propshaft, the diff noise has got worse and I'm fairly convinced that its the smaller crownwheel bearing that is failing almost certainly due to my mistakenly draining the diff and running it dry for 200 miles 2 years and 45K miles ago.

So I want to remove the diff, strip it, remove the pitted bearing and source a replacement, the size is yet unknown so I cant buy it in advance and there are also other unknowns like sealing the casing afterwards, getting the correct preload and CW&P mesh, I don't want to rush it, a second hand diff is not an economic possibility now that I am solely in france and no longer return to the UK.

I need to keep the car on the road while I work on the diff so am hoping that I could still drive the vehicle in FWD only by removing the diff, propshaft and both rear driveshafts, having had a look (but not a good one like using a ramp) it seems feasible unless any of you know otherwise, I'm sure it will be fault code city and lose ABS etc but maybe I might be able to code out the 4WD unit.

Looking at it I think the diff can be removed by sliding it forwards and down without having to remove the rear cross member, the upper rear mountings bolt from the top, I think I can feel removable access plugs above them but I carry so much Brin under my variofloor that it will be a major work up to see, can anyone who has a tidy boot and can lift up their floor covering confirm if there are removable bungs to access the upper diff mounting bolts?

Can anyone confirm that the diff does come out in the manner I think it does without removing the crossmember?

Very few people seem to have done this job.

All and any other comments welcomed, I may well have missed the elephant in the room!