Auxerre look to stay in contention

AJ Auxerre can move to within two points of French league leaders RC Lens if they win their two games in hand, but first they must take something from their trip to Lille OSC on Saturday.

One defeat in 12
Guy Roux's side, champions last in 1996, have lost just one of their last 12 league matches and last weekend recovered a two-goal deficit to defeat FC Metz 3-2. They enter the weekend fourth in Le Championnat with 51 points from 27 matches, eight points behind the leaders, RC Lens.

Cisse on song
Auxerre's midweek fixture at CS Sedan-Ardennes was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch but that is unlikely to trouble their momentum. However, it will be interesting to see how striker Djibril Cisse reacts to his exclusion from the France squad for the friendly against Scotland next week. Cisse has scored 15 goals this season for Auxerre and is attracting covetous glances from Liverpool FC according to some sources.

Kapo injured
Cisse will be even more crucial to the Auxerre cause given the absence of Olivier Kapo, who is in plaster for the next three weeks after limping out of the Metz match with a damaged right ankle. Tamou Tanio is back in the squad, but is struggling with a knee problem.

Impressive home form
Unbeaten in their last five visits to LOSC, Auxerre can take even more confidence from having suffered only two league reverses on the road this term. They are unlikely to have it easy, however, against a LOSC side who have won ten of their 14 home matches, including a 2-0 success against Olympique Lyonnais last time out.

Eyeing Champions League place
LOSC lie fifth in Le Championnat, level on points with Auxerre. With five games remaining their title hopes look slim yet a place in the UEFA Champions League is well within their reach. Coach Vahid Halilhodzic handed charge of the team to his assistants in the build-up to this match as he was occupied with personal matters. One player to return for LOSC is Sylvain N’Diaye.