Auxerre will have to cope again without leading scorer Ireneusz Jelen when they host struggling Nancy in Ligue 1 tomorrow.

The Poland striker, who missed last weekend's 1-0 defeat at Paris St Germain, has still not recovered from a thigh problem.

"He's only about 70 to 80% over his injury and needs three more days of treatment," Auxerre coach Jean Fernandez said on www.ligue1.com.

"But he'll be back training with the rest of the squad on Monday."

Auxerre have managed just four points from their six league games without Jelen, who has scored four times this season, but still lie third in the standings, just two points behind Lyon and Bordeaux.

Roy Contout should continue to fill in for the Pole, and Fernandez has faith in the former Amiens forward, even though he is yet to get off the mark this term.

"In our squad, he's the main replacement for Jelen, because his style is the most similar to Ire's of the other strikers on our books," said the coach.

"He knows how to get in behind defenders, just like Jelen. He's fast and alive. The only difference is he doesn't score. For that to happen he needs something to click."

Auxerre, who have won their last six home league games, will also be without captain Benoit Pedretti, who serves a one-match suspension, while Julien Quercia is out until the new year with a groin problem.

Striker Kevin Lejeune, though, is available after recovering from a knee injury.

If Auxerre are looking to keep the pressure on the league's top two, Nancy's need for points is just as pressing.

Three straight defeats have pushed Pablo Correa's men toward the bottom three.

However, they still have an eight-point cushion above the drop zone and Correa maintains he is not getting concerned just yet.

He said: "I'm not worried or preoccupied with our position. On any given matchday you can gain or lose four of five places. I'll be worried only if this run goes on for a long time.

"I have some regrets over the points dropped against Lens and St Etienne but there's nothing shameful in losing to Bordeaux.

"I don't think we're stagnating as we've won five out of 14, just over a third of our games, but of course there is still progress to be made and we need more wins."

Nancy will be missing Morocco full-back Michael Chretien, who has still not recovered fully from an Achilles tendon injury.