It may be early days in the Primera Division season, but Almeria coach Hugo Sanchez already views Sunday's clash with Real Zaragoza as a proverbial 'six-pointer'.
Almeria make the trip north having lost three of their last four matches, including a 3-0 humbling at home by Valencia last weekend and a 2-1 Copa del Rey defeat to second division Hercules in midweek.
Promoted Zaragoza are not in the best of form either though, with two draws and two defeats from their last four league and cup outings.
Those poor runs of results have contributed to both clubs finding themselves in the bottom half of the table.
Neither are currently in the relegation zone but both are going in the wrong direction and know that they can ill afford to drop points tomorrow against opponents likely to be battling against them to avoid the drop at the end of the season.
Sanchez said: "Real Zaragoza are a direct rival, a team in our 'league' at this time, and by winning one team will get three points and the other none, meaning the winner will take an important step forward to the detriment of their opponents.
"As such, the points are worth double. It's a key game where we can try to avoid suffering from a certain nervousness."
Sanchez knows it will not be easy for his side at La Romareda, where Zaragoza won 15 of 21 games during their promotion season last year, losing just once, but the Mexico coach can take heart from his side's improved form.
In 19 away games in La Liga last season, Almeria suffered 14 defeats and picked up just nine points, but the Andalusians are almost halfway to that total already this term with four points from four games on their travels.
"If we obtain a good result in Zaragoza and we win at home against Osasuna, we will take a very big step forward and we will get ourselves into a more comfortable situation in the standings," added Sanchez.
"It's a pity that we've let slip away four points at home against Valladolid (0-0) and Racing Santander (2-2), neither of whom are in a good place in the table.
"We are working hard to get the victory against Zaragoza, but we know there is a risk because we are playing as visitors and they have a good team, with players who have quality and are resolute. A draw isn't a bad result, but we will look for the win."
Zaragoza will also be especially keen to pick up a win as they were thrashed 6-1 by Barcelona last weekend and were then held to a 1-1 home draw by Malaga in the cup.
Coach Marcelino Garcia Toral again looks set to be without Carlos Diogo and Braulio, but Ivan Obradovic could return from injury.
