Two games in - both victories, over Angers SCO and Nîmes Olympique - and the central defensive duo of Saliba and Todibo are already looking the part at Nice.

"The two of them are giving the rest of the team a lot of confidence," coach Adrian Ursea explained to the Ligue 1 Show on beIN SPORTS. "They're solid defensively and their distribution is good. They reassure everyone. You can see they have personality. We're really pleased with the way they've played."

Nice have only conceded a single goal across 180 minutes of football since pairing the two France youth internationals at the heart of their defence. That they have clicked so quickly is perhaps no surprise.

Watch: Highlights of Nice's 3-0 win over Angers

"I've known JC for three or four years now," Saliba said of Todibo. "I played against him in youth football, and at professional level. We were together with France's junior teams, so of course that helps our relationship."

At just 19 and 21 respectively, Saliba and Todibo are two of France's best defensive prospects. They may have played only 59 top-flight games between them, but the pair look totally at home at the highest level. Saliba, who has played five more times for Nice so far, has impressed his coach with his authority.

"You can see he has character and above all he reassures the others," continued Ursea. "He's not vocal, but he's a leader in his own way. To see you a young lad who isn't even 20 yet playing with such assurance against strikers like Wissam Ben Yedder and Kevin Volland, it really is quite amazing."

Watch: Highlights of Nice's narrow 2-1 loss at Monaco

Saliba and Todibo both have talent, but they're also showing mental strength. Ex-AS Saint-Étienne man Saliba is bouncing back now after being frozen out by Arsenal, while Todibo, formerly of Toulouse FC, struggled to for game time at Barcelona having moved there two years ago.

"Barcelona has been a fantastic experience for me," Todibo admitted. "I learned alongside great defenders like Gerard Pique, Samuel Umtiti and Clement Lenglet. I learned so much at Barca, it was really good for me. It gave me a taste of football at the highest possible level."

The two youngsters have a big responsibility at Nice as they try to fill the boots of injured club captain Dante, who is out until at least May with a ruptured cruciate ligament. Their athletic presence has allowed Ursea to revert to back four, and their distribution is helping to fill the void left by the Brazilian.

"Before we had Dante who was a very calm presence," Ursea explained. "The way we play the ball out of defence is so important, that's how the attacks start. So when we have two ball-playing defenders like them, it really helps. It allows us to develop the kind of playing style we want to produce."

Against Angers in their first game together, Saliba and Todibo saw more of the ball than any other Nice player, completing 90 percent of their passes during the impressive 3-0 win. It may still be early days, but with them at the back, les Aiglons are beginning to take flight.