Paris Saint-Germain do battle with Bastia at Stade de France on Saturday knowing that victory would hand them a Coupe de la Ligue title and the chance to secure part one of an unprecedented quadruple.
In contrast, for Bastia the encounter represents an opportunity for Ghislain Printant's side to achieve a rare bright moment in a season that could yet see them relegated from Ligue 1.
PSG
© Getty Images
It has certainly been a fruitful 2015 for Laurent Blanc's side, who eliminated Chelsea from the Champions League in impressive fashion to reach the quarter-finals, and overhauled Lyon to lead the way in Ligue 1, having trailed by as many as seven points back in January.
On the field things appear well for Les Parisiens, who also thrashed Saint-Etienne 4-1 on Wednesday to reach the final of the Coupe de France for the first time since losing to Lille in 2011. Zlatan Ibrahimovic netted a hat-trick to make it nine goals in his last five appearances in all competitions - ominous for a Bastia defender.
They face a season-defining couple of weeks, though, with something of injury crisis threatening to scupper the foundations for success that they have laid so effectively in 2015.
Beating Marseille in Le Classique at the weekend came at a cost as David Luiz and Thiago Motta both fell injured, with four weeks and 10 days the estimated recovery times for the duo, while Lucas Moura remains sidelined.
With key Ligue 1 outings and a quarter-final Champions League tie with Barcelona on the horizon, Blanc may find himself with a dilemma over resting big names to avoid further depletion, or naming his best possible XI to maximise their hopes of retaining the Coupe de la Ligue title.
Recent form: DWLWWW
Recent form (all competitions): WLDWWW
Bastia
© Getty Images
Win or lose, competing in a final may just prove to be the only positive in an otherwise disappointing season for Printant's men, who sit five points above the relegation zone and have taken just one point from a possible nine leading up to this.
It is hardly the type of form that will have Les Parisiens' players quaking in their boots.
However, Bastia have displayed a type of resilience in this competition that has eluded them in the Ligue 1 campaign, with hard-fought wins over Auxerre, Caen and Rennes taking them to the semis, before a 7-6 penalty shootout win over Champions League quarter-finalists Monaco booked their spot at Stade de France.
The clash represents a repeat of the 1995 final, where Les Parisiens won 2-0 at Parc des Princes, but Blanc and co will need to play well if history is to repeat itself on Saturday.
Recent form: WLWLDL
Team News
© Getty Images
With Luiz, Motta and Lucas sidelined, the strength of Les Parisiens' squad will be tested on Saturday and could prove decisive in determining who clinches the title.
Edinson Cavani, who publicly subjected Blanc to a tongue-lashing for substituting him during Le Classique, is among PSG's walking wounded, though it is not known if his potential exclusion is linked to what happened at Stade Velodrome.
By virtue of the fact that Ibrahimovic and Marco Verratti are both suspended for Wednesday's first-leg visit of Barcelona, Blanc has no reason to rest the pair for Saturday.
PSG possible starting lineup:
Sirigu; Silva, Marquinhos, Van der Wiel, Maxwell; Verratti, Cabaye, Rabiot; Lavezzi, Pastore, Ibrahimovic
Bastia possible starting lineup:
Areola; Palmieri, Peybernes, Modesto, Cioni; Ayite, Boudebouz, Cahuzac, Kamano; Gillet, Sio
Head To Head
Despite being separated by some 25 points in France's top flight, Bastia may know the secret to beating PSG, being only one of two teams to trump the French giants in 2015 following a shock 4-2 win back in January.
Prior to that scalp, though, you need to travel back 12 years to find their last win over PSG - although the capital club won the next nine in all competitions before the upset three months ago.
We say: PSG 2-0 Bastia
Blanc and co need only remember the disappointment and criticism that came their way after losing to Bastia in January. With that result still relatively fresh in their minds, it should inspire them on Saturday and PSG will have too much firepower for them.
Shane Callaghan
