Marseille coach Didier Deschamps accepts it will be difficult for his players to focus on their match at Valenciennes with a mouthwatering visit to Real Madrid just four days later.

OM are flying in the league and are yet to lose at home or away.

Deschamps is eager to preserve that record but knows his players will probably have one eye focused on the Bernabeu.

"If my players already have the match against Real Madrid at the back of their minds it's not serious," he said.

"But they all know really well that our priority is the league."

Saturday's game might seem on paper a much easier proposition than the Champions League clash.

But Deschamps is well aware VA will be smarting from their midweek Coupe de la Ligue exit to Metz and eager to prove themselves.

"I don't think we'll see the VA that I saw against Metz on Wednesday," he said. "Against OM players want to prove themselves.

"For us it's really difficult to have the same concentration and motivation as against Paris St Germain or Real.

"It's up to me to motivate my troops."

Baky Kone is definitely out of the match but Taye Taiwo and Stephane Mbia are back in training and could feature.

VA striker Mamadou Samassa would love to get one over his former team-mates.

The Mali international is on a season-long loan spell at the Stade Nungesser and is hoping to add to the two goals he has already scored this campaign.

"I want to give 100% to win this match," Samassa told la Voix du Nord. "I really want to beat Marseille because we need to pick up points."

VA will be desperate to improve on their home record which has seen them only pick up one point at the Nungesser.

Johan Audel is Philippe Montanier's only injury worry.