With their win at Angers last weekend and Lyon's defeat against Metz, PSG claimed top spot for the first time since mid-December, and Paredes has every intention of keeping them there with a fourth successive win at the Parc des Princes.

"We have a very important game on Friday, very difficult. We'll have to approach it in the best way possible," said the Argentina international midfielder. "Montpellier are a team that has often caused us problems. We'll have to do our best to be able to stay top of the table. Having teams close to us enables us to stay focussed on remaining league leaders. That's the most important thing."

PSG have prepared for the game without coach Mauricio Pochettino being on the training pitch with them this week. The freshly installed PSG boss is isolating at home after testing positive for COVID-19 while his technical staff try to mould the side into the unit they hope to fashion.

WATCH: PSG's Angers management

"There's a new technical staff, it's never easy to settle in mid-season. We're trying to learn from them and apply their ideas in our upcoming games," said Paredes. "There are different things just as with any change in coach. We want to keep improving. Our attitude is just as good. We have an important game on Friday and we're going to do our best."

Despite being absent in person, Pochettino has had a presence of sorts at training sessions, however.

"Mauricio watched the week's work thanks to the cameras at the Ooredoo Training Centre. He contributed a lot to the group dynamic. Nevertheless, it was a strange week for us," explained Pochettino's assistant, Jesus Perez. "His presence is essential. We have have to thank the staff and the players for their professionalism. Despite all the restrictions, he was able to see everything. 

"He's a strong and positive person. He's fulfilling all his duties from home, communicating and supervising training sessions. It's not easy, but he's contributing to sessions. He's ill, we're concerned, but he's still completely in charge. He's in a good frame of mind. There are constraints, but thanks to everyone's support, he's doing well."

WATCH: Montpellier fall short against Monaco

While Rafinha and Thilo Kehrer are in contention after recovering full fitness, Ander Herrera has been left out of the matchday squad as a precaution, and joins full-back Colin Dagba (COVID-19) and Juan Bernat (knee) on the sidelines as PSG look to extend their unbeaten run to seven league matches with what would be a third successive victory.

The odds look good with Montpellier in freefall. Fifth before they lost 3-1 to the Parisians in Round 13, Michel Der Zakarian's men have won just once and lost four times in their seven top-flight outings since.

"Collectively, we have to be very good. We need focus and aggression. And even then, your opponent can be better than you," said the Montpellier boss, whose side showed character to come back from 3-0 down against Monaco last time out before losing 3-2.

"Against Monaco, they were stronger than us overall, they had the chances to punish us. It's up to the players who start on Friday to fulfil their roles."

Probable teams

PSG: Navas – Florenzi, Marquinhos (c), Kimpembe, Kurzawa – Verratti, Paredes – Di Maria, Neymar, Mbappé - Icardi.

MHSC: Omlin - Sambia, Congre, Mendes, Cozza, Ristic - Chotard, Le Tallec, Savanier - Delort (c), Laborde.

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