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Defender Zoumana Camara feels the visit of Ligue 1 leaders Auxerre is "not a bad thing" as Paris St Germain seek to end a dismal run of form.

Antoine Kombouare's side lie 13th, 10 points adrift of their table-topping opponents.

Their 4-1 success against Sochaux was their only win in the last eight league games - hardly ideal preparation for an engagement with Jean Fernandez's side, who have won seven in a row.

But Camara told the club's official website: "We haven't been doing well enough, for a while now. Apart from our win over Sochaux, we haven't recorded many points.

"It's not a bad thing to be taking on the leader when you're looking to make up for a poor performance. But it won't be easy because Auxerre are coming off seven consecutive wins.

"They're a good team but we have the quality required to knock them off."

Kombouare hopes Claude Makelele, back from a one-match ban, can also overcome a slight injury but Clement Chantome is unlikely to feature after suffering an injury against Marseille last time out.

Auxerre, meanwhile, are without star striker Ireneusz Jelen, who was injured in training on Wednesday and will be replaced by Julien Quercia.

Benoit Pedretti is available, but misses next week's clash with Nancy after the league imposed a one-match ban for an incident involving Montpellier's Alberto Costa in October 31's meeting.

The Burgundy club have won only once in five previous matches without Poland international Jelen, and Fernandez admitted the influence that he and Pedretti have as he told the club website: "Our disastrous run last winter came when Pedretti and Jelen were absent.

"Pedretti's quality of passing and Jelen's speed are a big part of the Auxerre of today. Lots of teams like ours depend on the influence of three or four players."