Lille OSC vs Lens preview - Kombouare and Lens on the brink

Lens coach Antoine Kombouare described his side's desperate plight as they prepare to have their relegation from Ligue 1 mathematically confirmed in Sunday's trip to Lille.

Lens travel to the game against their eighth-placed opponents lying 12 points from safety, without a win in give games and with a severely reduced squad due to a succession of injuries.

Kombouare told lensois.com: "I'm not going to lie - we are not in the best situation. We have had a run of defeats and therefore confidence is shrinking.

"Add to that the squad is shrinking due to injuries and it becomes difficult to form a group. Unfortunately we have not had the opportunity to bring in new blood to give competition."

Kombouare's options reduced even further this week when it was revealed Ludovic Baal and Patrick Fradj are set to miss the trip to Lille with ankle and collarbone injuries respectively.

Lille's hopes of mounting a late challenge for a European spot were effectively ended when their three-match unbeaten was brought to an abrupt end by last week's 6-1 drubbing at Paris St Germain.

But coach Rene Girard inisists there is still much to play for ahead of the local derby and urged his players not to be complacent despite their opponents' dismal situation.

Girard told lensois.com: "A derby game is not a game like any other - you forget about the ranking and it is a match about pride for the entire region.

"We know what it means to the fans and although Lens are in a critical situation, for them it is a situation to shine and go out with their heads held high."