William Saliba wants to "go off on holiday with a smile" by helping Marseille secure UEFA Champions League football for next season as the Ligue 1 Uber Eats podium challengers prepare to face Saint-Etienne in Sunday's postponed fixture.
Marseille currently sit second in the table, just one point clear of Rennes in the race to clinch an automatic spot in next season's UEFA Champions League group stage. Back-to-back wins in their last two league matches have kept Jorge Sampaoli's men out in front in the race behind Paris Saint-Germain but Saliba is aware there can be no let-up.
WATCH: What happened when Marseille met Saint-Etienne this season
"Everyone is committed, so that's positive. We're second, but we mustn't drop off. We could soon find ourselves fourth or fifth," said Saliba, whose side have a three-point advantage over fourth-placed Nice following a 2-1 win in the duo's meeting just before the international break. "It's up to us to play the remaining games as if they're finals. And there's European competition too, we want to go all the way. I hope that I'll go off on holiday with a smile."
Saliba is on loan at Marseille this season from Arsenal, and his impressive displays earned him his first France caps during the international break after he was handed a maiden call-up by coach Didier Deschamps.
His first senior appearance for his country came at his club's Stade Orange Vélodrome where his every touch in the 2-1 win over Cote d'Ivoire was cheered by fans who hope the 21-year-old could return to their club next season.
"This club and the fans are magnificent, so I want to enjoy it as much as possible until the end of the season, as if I'm not going to come back," said Saliba. "I have two months left, I want to enjoy every moment, particularly at home. After that, we'll see what happens. If I come back, I'll do so very very happily."
Marseille make the trip without in-form striker Arkadiusz Milik, who picked up a minor hamstring injury on international duty with Poland, as well as the suspended Luan Peres.
While OM are aiming for Europe, Saint-Etienne are hoping to maintain their top-flight status. The record 10-time French champions have lost just one of their last eight league games — and that to PSG — but last weekend's 1-1 draw with fellow strugglers Troyes means they come into Round 30 third-from-bottom, a point adrift of outright safety.
WATCH: Marseille's big win over Nice
"It's a match in which we weren't at it collectively," said former France international defender Eliaquim Mangala. "As soon as we lack discipline, we put ourselves in danger. We need to attack and defend together. Up till now, we had done that well, we have to get back to that. To do that, we have video analysis. We know what happened. We don't want to repeat the same mistakes. We have to have good intentions, be together, united."
While experienced forwards Wahbi Khazri and Romain Hamouma will be absent through injury, Pascal Dupraz's men will be able to count on a racously passionate home crowd at the Stade Geoffory Guichard, nicknamed Le Chaudron or the Cauldron.
"We know it's sold out. It's a big plus to have the fans' support," said Mangala. "Having a great opponent adds extra spice. They're second in the table, and they're a team that's playing well. We can't ignore that, but we mustn't forget what we're there for."
Probable teams
Saint-Etienne: Bernardoni; Moukoudi, Mangala, Joldziejczak, Nadé; Thioub, Gourna-Douath, Camara, Boudebouz; Nordin, Bouanga
Marseille: Lopez; Saliba, Caleta-Car, Kamara; Lirola, Rongier, Guendouzi, Gerson; Payet, Harit, Bakambu
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