LOSC - RC Strasbourg Alsace

- kick-off: 15:05 GMT

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Lille may be the defending Ligue 1 Uber Eats champions, but they are about to cede their title to PSG, who will succeed les Dogues should they be victorious over RC Lens on Saturday.

LOSC's title-winning coach Christophe Galtier left for OGC Nice at the start of the season, but Jocelyn Gourvennec has used largely the same personnel - and even the same 4-4-2 formation - for much of this season. It just hasn't been clicking into gear though.

No Botman or Djalo

A defensive injury crisis hasn't helped them. The highly regarded Botman has missed the last five league games with a hamstring injury, while Tiago Djalo, hitherto deputising at centre-back, has picked up a suspension, meaning midfielder Benjamin André has been asked to fill in.

Watch: Highlights of Lille's 2-1 loss to Reims

Lille have endured a difficult week. Beaten 2-1 by Derby du Nord rivals RC Lens last Saturday, they then lost by the same scoreline to Stade de Reims on Wednesday. Now ninth, with eight points to make up on the European places, Gourvennec is growing frustrated.

"We had the Reims game in our hands for 80 minutes," he lamented. "To lose at the end is incredible when you see the face of the game. It's a big disappointment and a poor performance. Two points from four games is clearly not good enough. We must keep our heads up between now and the end of the season."

David the Goliath

With Djalo missing once again, André should continue at centre-back alongside club captain Jose Fonte. Further forward, Hatem Ben Arfa is also suspended, so Burak Yilmaz and Timothy Weah are competing for the right to partner Jonathan David in attack.

Visiting Strasbourg are fourth in the table, level on points with third-place Stade Rennais FC having beaten the Bretons 2-1 on Wednesday, with Habib Diallo and Ludovic Ajorque getting their goals at the Stade de la Meinau.

Watch: Highlights of Strasbourg's 2-1 win over Rennes

Le Racing are now undefeated in 11 matches since being shocked 4-3 by Girondins de Bordeaux in Round 22, and coach Julien Stéphan is confident they can avenge their 2-1 defeat to Lille in September's reverse fixture.

"My players had an incredible, very successful match," he said of the Rennes game. "I don't want to set limits on them. We just want to play football; we don't think about the league table.

'Ambition'

"You have to savour these moments. We won't be favourites against Lille, who are the French champions, nor against PSG, but we'll approach these games with solidity, serenity and ambition. It's going to be exciting."

Striker Majeed Waris is Strasbourg's only first-team injury concern with a back problem, but Ajorque has been ably assisted by Kévin Gameiro and Diallo up front. Lucas Perrin, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Anthony Caci are each a card away from a suspension, but all should start.

Possible teams

Lille: Jardim; Celik, Fonte, André, Gudmundsson; Zhegrova, Sanches, Xeka, Bamba; Yilmaz, David

Strasbourg: Sels; Perrin, Nyamsi, Djiku; Caci, Aholou, Sissoko, Bellegarde, Liénard; Ajorque, Gameiro