AS Monaco will be looking to keep pace with the sides above them in the table when they host Rennes in Ligue 1 this weekend.
The Champions League quarter-finalists are just six points off top spot, but face a Rennes side trying to secure a top-half finish for the first time in three seasons.
AS Monaco
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Monaco have been one of the strongest sides in Ligue 1 in recent weeks, having not lost in their last eight outings, and cruised to a 3-0 win over Caen in their last league match.
However, Leonardo Jardim's side come into the match fresh from a 1-0 defeat to Juventus in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final, where they looked the stronger side at times.
That result means that the team will have one eye on the second leg of that tie, which takes place on Wednesday, when a place in the Champions League semi-finals will be a possibility.
Monaco have had a mixed season at Stade Louis II, losing just twice at their home stadium, but also being held to draws in eight of their 16 home fixtures.
The Monte Carlo-based side have the best defence in the division, keeping 17 clean sheets so far three more than league leaders Lyon - and conceding just 22 goals.
While Monaco's attack has blown hot and cold throughout the campaign, Anthony Martial's form in recent weeks has been key to keeping them in the title race, with the striker scoring six goals in as many games.
Recent form: WWWDDW
Recent form (all competitions): LWDDWL
Rennes
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Rennes come into this match following back-to-back wins in the league, and have lost just once in their last six matches, leaving them ninth in the table.
This weekend's visitors know that a win on Saturday could lift them above Lille in the table, while defeat would dent their hopes of a top-half finish, with three teams within six points of them.
Despite their lofty position in the league, Rennes are not yet mathematically safe from relegation, as they are just 12 points clear of the bottom three with four fixtures still to play.
Rennes have been strong at the back all season, keeping 14 clean sheets, with only Monaco and St Etienne picking up more, while letting in just 37 goals.
Attacking has been less successful for the club though as they have averaged just a goal per match, finding the back of the net fewer times than relegation-threatened Toulouse.
Rennes have some tricky matches in the final weeks of the Ligue 1 season, with ties with Nice, Montpellier and league leaders Lyon still to come, so will be hoping to capitalise against a side that have just returned from a midweek trip to Turin.
Recent form: WWLDWW
Team News
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Monaco will still be without Alain Traore, who is yet to feature for the club since joining on loan from Lorient, while Tiemoue Bakayoko is still struggling with a thigh injury.
Lacina Traore is also missing as he continues to recover from a broken leg sustained in the Africa Cup of Nations back in February.
The visitors also have a number of long-term absentees, with Gjoko Zajkob, Emir Lenjani and Vincent Pajot all out, while Philipp Hosiner is continuing his recovery from surgery to remove a tumour, recently revealing that he hopes to be ready to return over the summer.
However, neither side have reported any new injuries since their most recent fixtures, giving them the option to stick with the same starting lineups.
Monaco may make changes though, resting players for their crucial Champions League tie against Juventus just a couple of days after this fixture.
AS Monaco possible starting lineup:
Subasic, Abdennour, Fabinho, Carvalho, Echijile, Raggi, Moutinho, Silva, Kurzawa, Kondogbia, Martial
Rennes possible starting lineup: Costil, M'Bengue, Mexer, Armand, Danze, Fernandes, Ntep, Doucoure, Henrique, Andre, Toivonen
Head To Head
These sides last met in Monaco just a couple of months ago when the hosts knocked Rennes out of the Coupe de France with a 3-1 victory.
In the reverse of this fixture in the league though, it was Rennes who were victorious, securing a 2-0 win thanks to a goal from Ola Toivonen and an own goal.
Monaco have the edge overall in the history of this fixture, beating Rennes 20 times in 39 matches, with Rennes taking 14 wins, while just five meetings have ended in stalemates.
We say: AS Monaco 2-1 Rennes
Even with one eye on the Champions League, Monaco have been in emphatic league form recently, so will certainly head into the match as favourites. With the in-form Anthony Motion and the prospect of Dimitar Berbatov on the bench, the hosts will be dangerous going forward, while giving little away at the back.
Sian Cowper
