Ligue 1 leaders Marseille travel to Rennes for a Coupe de la Ligue last-32 clash on Wednesday, while Bordeaux are at Toulouse on Tuesday.
Marcelo Bielsa s league leaders are in red-hot form, coming into the cup contest off eight straight wins in the French top flight.
Marseille claimed a league cup hat-trick from 2010 to 2012, but no silverware has landed at the Stade Velodrome since.
The two clubs have endured a close rivalry in recent times, Marseille s 3-0 Ligue 1 win at home to Rennes in September snapping a three-match winless run against the north-west club.
Rennes won their only other clash against Marseille this year, claiming a 1-0 triumph away from home in March.
Marseille will be hoping to preserve their winning streak, despite having to travel on one of the longest trips in French football.
An out-of-form Bordeaux are up against an equally out-of-sorts Toulouse for a spot in the last 16.
Willy Sagnol s Bordeaux are winless in three, while Toulouse have failed to trouble the scorers in two straight league losses.
Their past two meetings in Ligue 1 have featured three red cards, meaning there could be some spite on show at Toulouse s Municipal Stadium.
Also on Tuesday, Evian and Lorient do battle in an all-Ligue 1 contest both sides flirting with relegation early in the domestic campaign.
The remaining six matches on Tuesday feature a top-flight team against a Ligue 2 outfit.
Mid-table Montpellier are at home to second-tier Ajaccio, Reims welcome Ligue 2 strugglers Arles and relegation-placed Bastia welcome an in-form Auxerre side.
Ligue 1 s Lens are at home to Creteil, Laval on the back of four straight draws will hope to upset Nantes, while top-flight side Caen will host Ligue 2 battlers Clermont.
Also on Wednesday, Nice and Metz separated by just one point in the Ligue 1 table will clash at the former s Allianz Riviera.
