Ligue 1 surprise package Nice travel to a resurgent Saint-Etienne today, as the race for Champions League places next season gathers momentum in France.
Following a stuttering start to the campaign in which Nice collected just one victory from 10 outings, Claude Puel - in his first season at the helm - has transformed the coastal side from perennial mid-table also-rans into European hopefuls.
A run of 11 wins in 16 matches since November, including the scalp of heavyweights Paris Saint-Germain, have propelled Nice into fourth place on 45 points, just one shy of Marseille who presently occupy the final Champions League spot.
Today, they face a Saint-Etienne team unbeaten this year, and just one point behind them in the standings.
"One only has to look at their statistics: they are unbeaten [this year]," Puel said. "They are a complete team all across the pitch, and one not depleted by injuries. They will probably put forth their best side in terms of strength and confidence."
Saint-Etienne briefly topped the table in November before a stretch of six matches without a win sent Christophe Galtier's side into free-fall.