Rennes coach Guy Lacombe has warned his players not to get carried away by their superb start to the season ahead of the trip to Bordeaux in Ligue 1 this weekend.

Rennes coach Guy Lacombe has warned his players not to get carried away by their superb start to the season ahead of the trip to Bordeaux in Ligue 1 this weekend.

The Brittany club have lost just once all campaign and rose to third in the table following their 2-1 win over Monaco last weekend.

Lacombe has turned the team's fortunes around since taking over a year ago but he wants his players to keep their feet firmly on the ground.

"We must not focus on this third place," he said.

"We were there last year, it was built up in the media and it got in the heads of the players as the team collapsed.

"I don't want to see that happen again this year."

Lacombe knows his team will have to perform out their skin tomorrow to maintain their unbeaten run that stretches back to mid-August.

Bordeaux lost 2-1 to Lyon last weekend to fall nine points behind Les Gones, and they will be desperate not to slip even further back in the title race.

"We know the big teams never lose twice consecutively," said Lacombe.

"We also know that when Bordeaux lose away, they take revenge at home. This will be a real test for us."

In-form forward Mickael Pagis should return for Rennes after recovering from the effects of the flu.

Bordeaux coach Laurent Blanc, whose side come into the weekend in sixth place, will again have to do without first-choice goalkeeper Ulrich Rame, who is still nursing an adductor problem.

Winger Gabriel Obertan is also struggling with a knee injury.

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