Olympique de Marseille - Nîmes Olympique

- Kick-off: 16:00 GMT

Yohann Pelé replaced Mandanda at half-time of Marseille's narrow 2-1 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Trophée des Champions on Wednesday, the first-choice goalkeeper making way with a thigh complaint.

The extent of the injury has yet to be confirmed, but André Villas-Boas is likely to give Mandanda until the last minute to prove his fitness, the Portuguese frustrated that results have not reflected performances in recent weeks.

'The better team'

"It was a balanced game, and we were the best team out there," the coach said following the delayed traditional season-opening showpiece at RC Lens' Stade Bollaert-Delelis. "Sometimes you can be the best team and lose, but we didn't deserve to lose.

Watch: Highlights of Marseille's goalless draw in Dijon

"Unfortunately, we lost, and congratulations to Paris, but we had an irreproachable state of mind and we mastered the game tactically and psychologically. The biggest honour that Paris can give us is that they celebrated as if they'd won the Champions League."

The Trophée des Champions match came hot on the heels of last Saturday's goalless draw at Dijon FCO - a game which saw OM settle for a share of the points despite 11 shots on goal to their opponents' four.

Amavi missing

Marseille remain sixth in the table, and will pull up to fourth - and into the automatic qualifying spot for next season's UEFA Europa League - if they win their two games in hand. They will likely have to do so without left-back Jordan Amavi, though, his thigh injury giving Yuto Nagatoma a meaningful run in the team.

OM have won each of their last four meetings with les Crocos, their last defeat to Saturday's visitors coming back in August 2018 when Denis Bouanga, Sada Thioub and Renaud Ripart scored in a 3-1 win at the Stade des Costières.

Recent history hasn't been much kinder to Nîmes. They begin the day rooted to the foot of the table with just three wins to their name in 2020/21 and 20 points fewer than their hosts, although there were shoots of promise in last Saturday's 1-0 loss to high-flying LOSC.

Watch: Highlights of Nîmes 1-0 loss to LOSC

"We showed a big reaction against Lille which was a big statement," said Villas-Boas' opposite number Jérôme Arpinon."We managed to compete with them. Nobody gave up, we just missed a goal.

'Still believe'

"I'm happy with how we're playing, the points are just missing. We'll do everything we can to save this club. Now, we'll have to repeat this kind of performance and hang on, but we still believe."

Nîmes remain without defender Pablo Martinez and midfielder Sidy Sarr due to a back injury and concussion respectively. Anthony Briançon was partnered by midfielder Lucas Deaux in central defence against Lille, and the pair could be given another chance to impress at the Vélodrome.

Possible line-ups

Marseille: Mandanda; Sakai, Alvaro, Caleta-Car, Nagatomo; Rongier, Kamara, Gueye; Thauvin, Benedetto, Payet

Nîmes: Reynet; Burner, Briançon, Deaux, Meling; Cubas, Alinhvi; Ferhat, Duljevic, Ripart; Koné