Heads elsewhere or on the contrary overmotivated, the Bordelais, marked by the serious injury of their striker Alberth Elis, travel to Rodez and the Valenciennes, red lanterns but semi-finalists of the Coupe de France, challenge the leader Auxerre, for the 27th day of Ligue 2.
Evacuated last Saturday after a head shock during the match against Guingamp, Honduran Girondins striker Alberth Elis emerged from an artificial coma on Wednesday but remains hospitalized.
Relieved but very cautious, his teammates want to turn this episode into strength in a championship where they remain ambitious.
A good result in Rodez on Saturday could tip Bordeaux, currently 13th, into the first part of the table.
It remains that the match against the Ruthenois could prove to be electric, nine months after the incidents which led to the cessation of Bordeaux-Rodez at the end of last season and cost the Girondins the withdrawal of a point in the standings.
At the top of the table, AJ Auxerre, solid leader with 51 points but which remains in a draw against the poorly ranked Bastia (1-1), welcomes the last Valenciennes for a match which is a priori very unbalanced.
But the Northerners, almost destined for relegation in the National with 15 points on the clock, are in full euphoria after their qualification for the last four of the Coupe de France, at the end of a quarter won on Wednesday on penalties against Rouen (National).
The runner-up of AJA, Angers, has just had three consecutive defeats and hopes to get back on track on Monday against AC Ajaccio, Monday evening at the end.
The SCO (46 pts), five lengths behind the Burgundian leaders, is followed by Laval (44 pts), which welcomes the 10th Amiens.
In the race for the climb, Saint-Etienne displays its pretensions after having scored three victories. The Greens, 4th, three points off the podium, travel to Charléty on Saturday afternoon for Paris FC.