Le Mans forward Anthony Le Tallec insists morale remains high in the camp despite the dismal run of form that has left them close to the foot of the Ligue 1 standings.
Last weekend's 1-0 defeat at Nice made it four league games without a win for Le Mans, a run that has seen them drop to second bottom of the standings - with only pointless Grenoble below them.
The pressure is on coach Paulo Duarte to turn things around after a sequence of only two wins in 11 games, but former Liverpool player Le Tallec insists the squad remains unified and are aware what must be done to arrest the slide.
"Despite everything, we play the ball very well," he explained. "We are serene and confident because we have quality.
"[Morale] is good, albeit a bit sluggish after each defeat, but we know that it will turn."
The visit of in-form Auxerre to the Stade Leon-Bollee tomorrow will be a stern test of Le Tallec's optimism, but his side have at least been boosted by the return of central defender Gregory Cerdan, who missed the loss at Nice with a thigh problem picked up in the 3-0 loss against Bordeaux last month.
Herold Goulon is also back in action but Fredrik Stromstad (hamstring), Guy Michel Landel (foot) and Antonio Geder (suspended) are unavailable.
Auxerre are the form team in the league and are defending an eight-game unbeaten run - not to mention an impressive five-game winning streak.
Their charge has taken them to fifth place in the standings, only five points behind leaders Bordeaux.
Auxerre coach Jean Fernandez welcomes back full-back Cedric Hengbart from suspension while Julien Quercia is nearing fitness after a long injury lay-off but will not be risked.
Alexandre Licata, Alain Traore, Amadou Sidibe and Kevin Lejeune are also sidelined.
