Racing de Santander vs Levante preview - Racing wages row rages on

Racing Santander coach Marcelino Garcia Toral admits the wages owed to the first-team squad is causing tension at the Cantabrian club.

The debts date back to last season and 11 of the club's players are still waiting to be paid.

"It's not an ideal situation," Garcia Toral said.

"There is concern because they were told that they would receive the money this week and still it hasn't happened, so I don't know if they will be in the best mental disposition (for the game against Levante)," he said.

The Racing coach admits the issue is a distraction, but believes his players will continue to carry out a professional job.

"It distracts the players' attention, obviously, but they are great professionals and I am sure they will (continue to) give their all," he said.

Francis, Manuel Arana and Markus Rosenberg are all out for Racing, as well as long-term injury victim Oscar Serrano.

Racing have won their last two Primera Division matches and are now six points clear of the drop zone.

Levante, meanwhile, are even better off.

The Valencia-based side have the third-best record in the league in the second half of the campaign, only bettered by Barcelona and Real Madrid.

With eight league games left, they sit proudly in the top half of the table with 38 points - nine above the drop zone.

Survival remains the goal, however.

"The second half of the season has been crazy for Levante, but we're not thinking about qualifying for Europe," midfielder Xavi Torres said.

"We're focused on staying up."

On-form striker Felipe Caicedo misses out through injury, while Jefferson Montero, Juanfran Garcia and Asier del Horno are all doubtful.