Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has still not made up his mind whether he wants to continue in his post beyond this season.

Guardiola: Not yet made decision on new contract

The 41-year-old, who has led the Catalan club to 13 trophies since taking over in summer 2008, prefers to extend his contract on a year-by-year basis, but has not yet committed to a fifth campaign at the helm.

Speculation over Guardiola's future dominated Saturday's pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday's Primera Division clash with third-placed Valencia, but the former Barca midfielder had no news to report.

He said: "[I know that] to renew for three, five or six years would be more stable. But it is a personal matter - how I can best work. I have to feel it myself.

"I cannot work in a demanding club if I do not feel strongly to do things. I am still not clear. If the club has a deadline, I will talk and decide. In the meantime, I'll go day by day. I do not want to use the club. Right now I'd rather take a little longer.

"If they respect that, good. If not, too bad. I do not want to deceive myself - I have not made the decision.

"The club has every right to give me a deadline. I must thank both Zubi [sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta] and the president [Sandro Rosell]."

Second-placed Barca side lie 10 points behind Real Madrid heading into the weekend and that could be stretched tonight when the leaders host Racing Santander.

Guardiola will make a late decision on Xavi but seems unlikely to rush the Spain midfielder in his recovery from a calf injury.

Wing-back Dani Alves and midfielder Javier Mascherano are suspended while Ibrahim Afellay and David Villa remain long-term absentees, but Seydou Keita returns from African Nations Cup duty with Mali.

Gerard Pique will return in central defence after being omitted from the squad that beat Bayer Leverkusen 3-1 in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday.

Pique was at fault for all of Osasuna's three goals in the 3-2 defeat last weekend that all but ruled Barca out of the title race, but Guardiola insisted he has faith in the Spain international.

He told the club's website earlier this week: "On Sunday we don't have Mascherano or Alves. I couldn't afford to lose Gerard. Pique knows that I have lots of love for him. For us, he's untouchable."

The sides have already met three times this season, battling out a 2-2 draw in La Liga in September before Barca edged their two-legged Copa del Rey semi-final earlier this month.

Valencia coach Unai Emery does not think his team have done too much wrong against the champions, but will "adjust details" for the trip to the Nou Camp.

"We must change," he said at his pre-match press conference. "We have had three games against Barcelona so far this season and have left all three with a good feeling. But two draws and one loss is not enough for our interests - we need more. We have to adjust details and then hopefully improve our chances of winning.

"The last time we played at Barcelona [2-0 defeat in second leg of cup tie 10 days ago] we made mistakes - and they have the capacity to exploit mistakes. We have to minimise errors.

"We have had success in attack but we must also be more consistent to be able to reach our goal. What we have had in the three games we must continue to show - personality."

An away win on Sunday night would see Los Che move to five points behind Barca in the standings, and Emery believes his players are more than capable.

"Our preparation is aimed at winning," he said. "Our mentality is meant to be ambitious and make winning a reality, which would reduce the gap to them from eight points to five. Tomorrow is our chance. It only happens once. We will give our all."