Stade Rennais FC vs Guingamp preview - Rennes eyeing Guingamp scalp

Survival is all but assured for Rennes but there is unlikely to be any let-up from Philippe Montanier's side this weekend given rivals Guingamp are coming to town.

Les Rouges et Noirs head into this round of fixtures sat ninth in the standings, boasting 42 points as the Ligue 1 campaign draws to a close.

It means relegation has almost certainly been averted - a status which would be strengthened further with victory against their near neighbours on Sunday.

The home match with Guingamp also offers Rennes to complete a clean sweep of Breton derbies, having already beaten EAG this season and done the double over Lorient.

"The fact we won the derby at Lorient, away from home, gives us a bit of a boost," coach Montanier said, referring to last weekend's 3-0 win at their other local rivals.

"Of the last five matches, we have won three, drawn one and lost one

"That's a rhythm we'd like to maintain until the end of the season. Against Nantes and Lorient, we played well.

"We have to keep that going, because what was true yesterday is not necessarily true tomorrow. Each time, we have to start from scratch.

"We still have an eye on what is behind us. It's not because we have 42 points that we're going to slacken off. It's only an extra step to go as high as possible."

As for opponents Guingamp, they too look safe of relegation worries given they sit 11th with a seven-point buffer over the relegation zone.

It is a match they approach fresh from the disappointment of Tuesday's 1-0 defeat to Auxerre in the Couple de France semi-finals, ending their hopes of retaining the crown.

"It's cruel," Guingamp midfielder Younousse Sankhare said." We had put a lot into preparing this game.

"We wanted to reach a second successive final. Unfortunately, we came up against a formidable team. I take my hat off to them.

"We lacked a clinical streak. We weren't able to score, to create chances. They had one chance and put it away. That's top level football.

"Now, we have to roll our sleeves up and ensure our survival as soon as possible."