RC Lens – AS Monaco Saturday at 21:00 CET (1900 GMT)

>> LIVE SCORING, STATS AND COMMENTARY

Lens may never have felt that winning the title was a realistic possibility before their 3-1 defeat away to league leaders Paris Saint-Germain, but finishing on the podium and securing a place in Europe’s elite club competition is certainly within reach for Les Sang et Or.

Franck Haise’s team have spent the majority of the campaign in the top three and had been second in the table before losing in the capital. They have since been overtaken by Olympique de Marseille and now lie just two points above Monaco in fourth. This game at what will be a packed Stade Bollaert-Delelis is therefore huge, with Lens knowing a win will move them five points clear of the principality side with six games left. In contrast, a defeat will see Monaco move above them and could also benefit OM in the race for second spot and an automatic berth in the Champions League group phase.

“It’s great that we are involved in this game. It is a real pleasure to have games like these so close to the end of the season and with 63 points already in the bag. The fact we are at home also gives confidence and strength to everyone,” said Haise, whose side have the best home record in Ligue 1 with 13 wins and one draw in 15 games.

“We need to show up and perform against all our opponents and not just those who are in the top five,” added Haise with Lens also having a home clash with Marseille to come early next month.

Highlights: Ten-man Lens beaten in Paris

“We are not constantly talking about Europe in the dressing room, even if it’s not as though we are trying to avoid the subject. We just focus on what we can and must do to keep performing well. We have been making progress over the last three years but so have the other teams. You just need to look at the points totals of the teams in the top five. It’s not normal.”

Haise will not say it at this stage, but even finishing fourth and qualifying for the Europa League would be an enormous achievement for Lens, a club who spent nine seasons in Ligue 2 between 2009 and 2020. Monaco, meanwhile, have finished in the top three seven times since winning promotion back to the elite in 2013.

Revenge for last season?

That includes in each of the last two seasons, although both times they have come third and then subsequently gone out of the Champions League in the qualifying rounds. Last season they were set to pip Marseille to second place before conceding a stoppage-time goal in Lens on the final day. That 2-2 draw meant they had to settle for third instead.

Monaco head north this time also seeking revenge for a 4-1 defeat at home to Lens in the early weeks of this campaign. Philippe Clément’s team are on something of a roll again, having won three and drawn one of their last four games. Last weekend they beat FC Lorient 3-1 at the Stade Louis II with goals by Krépn Diatta, Aleksandr Golovin and Kevin Volland.

“This game is not decisive given that there are still six rounds of the season left and every team has 18 points to play for. That said, if you beat a direct rival it is true that there is a six-point difference in the table, so it is a very important match but it is not a dealbreaker. What is certain is that we will be playing to win,” said Clément.

Volland set to start for Monaco, Onana for Lens

German international Volland could keep his place alongside Wissam Ben Yedder in the Monaco attack after getting a rare start against Lorient, with Monaco still missing the injured Breel Embolo.

“The connection between Kevin and Wissam has been strong for a long time. Kevin is so intelligent on the pitch, he makes the right decisions at the right time. His experience is important too, because he has played more matches than most players in the squad,” said Clément. “It is just bad luck that he has often been injured this season. He needs to be on top form physically to play well. Others can play well despite not being at 100 percent but not him.”

Highlights: Monaco too strong for Lorient

Lens will be missing influential midfielder Salis Abdul Samed as the Ghanaian begins a three-match suspension following his red card against PSG. Cameroon international Jean Onana is expected to replace him in the home line-up.

“It is a big blow because he is a key player, but now we need to prepare the team without him and this is where we will see the collective strength of the team. Those who replace him need to have an impact and find their place in the side,” said Haise.

“Salis has a very specific role in terms of winning back the ball and maintaining the balance of the team. The closest to him in terms of profile is Jean Onana, but he is still different. Lukasz Poreba is an option too, or Adrien Thomasson could play in a deeper role. We could also play a different system.”

Possible teams

Lens: Samba; Gradit, Danso, Medina; Frankowski, Onana, Fofana (c), Machado; Thomasson, Fulgini; Openda

Monaco: Nübel; Vanderson, Disasi, Maripan, Caio Henrique; Diatta, Fofana, Camara, Golovin; Volland, Ben Yedder (c)

>> ONE TO WATCH: Caio Henrique, Monaco's answer to David Beckham