Paris Saint-Germain make the trip to face Caen at the weekend looking to at least maintain their 17-point advantage at the top of the Ligue 1 standings.
Caen play host to the French giants sitting just above the relegation zone, but Fabien Mercadal's side have managed to register as many as 11 draws this season.
Caen
© Reuters
Caen have won just one of their last 18 fixtures in Ligue 1, but that does not tell the whole story about a team who pushed Lyon in the Coupe de France quarter-finals earlier this week.
Lyon's talented squad eventually prevailed by a 3-1 scoreline in front of their own supporters, but Caen were in the game until the 84th minute and it would have felt like further progress from their previous outings.
Back-to-back draws were recorded against Strasbourg and Toulouse - teams who sit in eighth and 15th place respectively in the standings - and it has at least given Mercadal something to work with going forward.
Caen have been victims of Monaco's recent resurgence, but SMC are still just above the bottom two and will have PSG out of the way after this weekend.
There will be an acknowledgement that a positive result against the league leaders is unlikely, but there may be a window of opportunity with the visitors also having one eye on their Champions League meeting with Manchester United next week.
A busy few days will not aid Caen's efforts with visits to Toulouse and Lyon having the potential to take its toll on the squad, but there will equally be no pressure and that could benefit Mercadal and his players.
The biggest issue for Mercadal is that his side have not scored a goal at Stade Michel d'Ornano in their last three games, and there needs to be a significant improvement in the final third.
Only seven players have scored in the league this season and only Enzo Crivelli has netted more than three times, and such a return cannot continue if Caen are to avoid relegation in the middle of May.
Recent form: LLLLDD
Recent form (all competitions): DLLDDL
Paris Saint-Germain
© Reuters
Much was made of PSG's defeat to Lyon at the start of February - a result which ended the club's hope of putting together an unbeaten Ligue 1 campaign - but that setback has acted as the catalyst for an excellent few weeks for Thomas Tuchel and his players.
Seven wins have been recorded in all competitions with 18 goals being scored and just the one conceded, and there is already little doubt that PSG will be lifting the Ligue 1 trophy once again in May.
However, their improvement is more significant in their efforts to win the treble, and part of Tuchel's focus will already be on the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie with Man United.
That match will inevitably lead to a number of changes being made this weekend, but the squad's understudies have already shown in recent weeks that they are capable of contributing in his talented setup.
PSG were said to be contemplating the sale of Christopher Nkunku during the January transfer window, but the 21-year-old is proving to be a valuable member of the squad and has provided two goals and an assist in his last two league games.
Colin Dagba, Moussa Diaby and Stanley N'Soki are also playing their part at a time when Tuchel opted to leave two spaces on his bench vacant for last weekend's game with Nimes.
That move highlighted PSG's recent injury worries, but it also showed that Tuchel has total faith in his youngsters who are bidding to earn a place in the squad in the long term.
A match away at a spirited Caen team will be another priceless experience for the quartet who will likely be involved at some point, but Kylian Mbappe will still want to take centre stage with five goals coming in his last four appearances in all competitions.
Recent form: WLWWWW
Recent form (all competitions): WWWWWW
Team News
© Reuters
Edinson Cavani has returned to training this week, and Tuchel has suggested that the Uruguay international will play some part on Saturday.
Neymar remains out with a foot injury, but PSG's injury issues are beginning to ease with Thomas Meunier having recently made his return in defence.
Nkunku and Diaby were both left on the bench in midweek, and that could be an indication that the pair will feature from the start this weekend.
Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and centre-back Thiago Silva could be among the players to be rested by Tuchel.
Caen will be able to call upon Ismael Diomande after suspension, while Aly Ndom is close to being able to make his debut after signing in January.
Former Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Prince Oniangue will line up in midfield.
Caen possible starting lineup:
Samba; Gradit, Diomande, Djiku, Armougom; Oniangue, Fajr; Guilbert, Tchokounte, Ninga; Crivelli
Paris Saint-Germain possible starting lineup:
Areola; Kehrer, Marquinhos, Kimpembe, Kurzawa; Alves, Paredes, Nkunku; Draxler, Mbappe, Diaby
Head To Head
PSG head into Saturday's fixture having put together a 16-match unbeaten streak against Caen, whose last success came in 2008.
A total of 12 victories and four draws have come during that period, although Caen did manage to hold PSG to a goalless draw in this contest last season.
We say: Caen 0-4 Paris Saint-Germain
Caen may possess a respective defensive record for a team who sit so low in the table, but we still expect PSG to ease to victory this weekend despite Tuchel being likely to rotate his squad.
Darren Plant
