Marseille coach Eric Gerets is relishing the prospect of a week which could make or break their Ligue 1 title challenge.

OM, who sit alongside Bordeaux at the top of the table, take on local rivals Nice on Wednesday night before seven-time defending champions Lyon visit the Velodrome on Sunday.

Gerets, who will be replaced at the helm by Didier Deschamps next season, is attempting to keep his focus on the match against Nice rather than look forward to the meeting with Les Gones.

He told the club's official website, www.om.net: "It's fantastic to be playing a derby right now.

"It's always fun, but it's going to be a little more electric than usual as they will, obviously, be trying to take all three points from us and we absolutely have to win."

On the Lyon clash, former Belgium midfielder Gerets added: "That's after Nice, we'll see what happens when the match comes around."

Bordeaux meet Valenciennes on Wednesday in the late game.

Third-placed Lyon have the chance to put some pressure on the top two when they open the midweek fixtures at home to Nantes tomorrow night.

Claude Puel's side are seven points behind the leaders but will certainly expect to close that gap against a side currently residing in the relegation zone.

Nantes are third from bottom having taken just 33 points from 34 games but hope lies in the fact they are level with fourth-bottom Sochaux and just one point behind Caen in 16th.

On Wednesday, Sochaux host Monaco while Caen go to Rennes.

Second-bottom St Etienne are also on 33 points and will know a win against rock-bottom Le Havre is a must.

A defeat for Le Havre will confirm their relegation.

Also on Wednesday, fourth-placed Paris St Germain go to Le Mans, Toulouse host Lille in a game that could prove decisive in the two teams' bid to play European football next season, Nancy meet Lorient and Grenoble visit Auxerre.