Zaragoza are currently one point above the Primera Liga relegation zone following Wednesday's defeat to fellow strugglers Valencia, but of all their rivals at the foot they have by far the toughest run-in on paper with matches against Madrid and Real Mallorca left.

Newly-crowned champions Madrid have won their last five successive matches, while seventh-placed Mallorca have won four on the trot.

Before Zaragoza can even think about that final-day trip to the Balearic Islands though, they must find a way of defeating Madrid as Cesar believes that game could be the crucial one.

"It's a game of life or death. It is a game about which everything has already been said. Our safety depends on winning and we don't need to think of anything more," the former Madrid goalkeeper said.

Zaragoza coach Manolo Villanova, whose side have won their last two home matches, is of a similar opinion to Cesar, saying: "We are playing for our lives and to have the chance of winning we must be at 100%.

"We need to continue along the same line with regards to play, atmosphere and involvement as against Recreativo Huelva and Deportivo La Coruna.

"We depend on ourselves, which is important, and we still have a great chance of staying up."

Villanova welcomes back Sergio Fernandez, Alberto Zapater and Albert Celades after suspension for Sunday's game, but Carlos Diogo, Luis Carlos Cuartero, David Generelo, and Chus Herrero are all missing through injury.

Madrid coach Bernd Schuster's side go into the match at La Romareda with confidence sky-high following a run of five successive wins, a streak that has resulted in them retaining their Primera Liga title and beating arch-rivals Barcelona 4-1 in the last week.

Madrid may not have anything left to play for this season, but that does not mean Schuster will accept a defeat this weekend.

"I think it's clear it is more difficult this time to get the motivation that our opponents have but I still don't know any player who likes to lose," he said.

"We are going to try to win in Zaragoza, we don't want to lose."

Schuster is set to make a number of changes to the side that thumped Barca in midweek.

Christoph Metzelder is available again following a lengthy injury lay-off, while Fabio Cannavaro is able to play after suspension, and they have both been included in an 18-man squad.

However, Iker Casillas, Pepe, Gabriel Heinze, Raul, Fernando Gago, Roberto Soldado and Arjen Robben are all absent through a mixture of injury, suspension and technical decisions.

"We are going to make changes because we have to, because we want to give players a break and also to give minutes to other players," said Schuster.

"But we don't want anyone to doubt us, we are going to select a team that can win, as we have always done."