Saturday 7 February 2015 12:43, UK
Lyon coach Hubert Fournier feels Sunday's blockbuster encounter with Paris Saint-Germain will not determine the destination of the Ligue 1 crown - but acknowledges victory would give his side a lift.
Les Gones head into the weekend top of the standings - two points clear of Marseille and Laurent Blanc's PSG.
Fournier feels the Stade Municipal de Gerland clash will be a good opportunity for his side to showcase their fine current form, but will not be getting carried away if they overcome the defending champions.
"It's not a decisive match," he said on www.olweb.fr. "This could boost our confidence and show that it is not by chance (that we are top).
"If we win without our absent players, it would be a great performance. OL want to stay the leader."
He continued: "It would be disrespectful to PSG to think (we are favourites). PSG are on an impressive run. It can be expected that they will be positive. It will be a great game."
Lyon will be without the league's leading scorer, with 21-goal Alexandre Lacazette having limped off with a hamstring injury shortly after netting the opener against Metz two weeks ago.
Clement Grenier (groin) and Guieda Fofana (ankle) both also sat out the Metz game, while Milan Bisevac is out for six months after rupturing knee ligaments in last weekend's goalless draw at Monaco - Lyon's first dropped points after a seven-game winning streak.
"Milan had surgery on Thursday," Fournier added. "It went well. His injury is a real loss. He is one of the best central defenders in the league. It's a tough loss at this time of the season."
Mehdi Zeffane (Algeria), Henri Bedimo and Clinton Njie (both Cameroon) are available, however, after returning from African Nations Cup duty.
For PSG, Thiago Motta is in contention after serving a one-game ban. Gregory van der Wiel missed last week's match with a toe problem.
Blanc's side approach the game buoyed by their midweek Coupe de la Ligue semi-final triumph over Lille, which kept them in contention on all three domestic fronts.
PSG defender Maxwell accepts Lyon deserve to be top of the pile, but has urged the capital club to grasp their opportunity to usurp them.
The 33-year-old Brazilian told PSG TV: "It's not a decisive match, but it's a very important game for us if we want to win the championship.
"This is a great opportunity to pass Lyon - that's long overdue. We work hard at it. We will show a lot of strength in Lyon to try to beat a team that deserves to be leading the championship."
