Rennes vs Bordeaux preview - Traore: Bordeaux back on form

Mali midfielder Abdou Traore insists Bordeaux are back in the hunt for a European place after back-to-back Ligue 1 wins over Evian and St Etienne.

Bordeaux moved to within one point of fourth-placed St Etienne with a 1-0 victory over Les Verts last weekend and Traore says morale is high in the camp ahead of Saturday's league game at Rennes.

"We are motivated and confident and now we must build on this momentum," Traore told the official club website.

"Everyone wants to play and as soon as there is competition in a group the team emerges stronger.

"We are aware we are back in the race [for Europe] but the idea is simply to win game after game and the rankings will follow naturally."

Bordeaux coach Willy Sagnol is without suspended left-back Diego Contento, who has picked up three yellow cards in less than 10 matches, and Maxime Poundje is set to deputise.

Clement Chantome is back in an 18-man squad after a one-game ban and Julien Faubert is also included after a spell on the sidelines through injury.

Rennes' build-up to the game has been dominated by talk of a new deal for coach Philippe Montanier, with club president Rene Ruello saying negotiations are "currently under way for a contract extension".

Montanier's more immediate concern is claiming a first league win since December 3, with Rennes falling from fifth to 12th after collecting only three points in their last nine games.

"I think our team becomes less effective when it is faced with the repetition of matches," Rennes midfielder Gelson Fernandes told girondins.com.

"In December and January it has been dense between the league and domestic cups but now we have one game a week.

"There are still 13 games to go and we need to get to 40-42 points as quickly as possible.

"We need to have more consistency, we expect a tough game at Bordeaux but we will give everything."

Forwards Paul-Georges Ntep and Ola Toivonen are likely to return after missing Rennes' 2-1 defeat at Toulouse last weekend, but Mozambique central defender Mexer remains a doubt after missing the last three matches due to an ankle injury.