PARIS (AFP) - This weekend sees crucial action at both ends of the French league as Lyon take on title rivals Bordeaux while Paris St Germain get to grips with the reality of a relegation battle.

Lyon, knocked out of the Champions League in midweek by Manchester United, sit three points clear as they bid for a seventh straight title but their repeated failure to make it to the business end of Europe's top club may have swift repercussions.

The club have made a habit of blooding top players then selling them at top dollar and sports daily l'Equipe suggests the next clearout of new stars such as Karim Benzema and Hatem Ben Arfa is imminent.

"Ben Arfa, Benzema ... should they be transferred?" asked France's sports daily as it pondered the best time for ringing the changes.

Looking at the case of Marseille's Samir Nasri as well as Lyon's French standard bearers, l'Equipe said in an editorial: "In the long term, it seems the departure of these three young stars of French football is inevitable."

The journal noted that the likes of Thierry Henry and Nicolas Anelka had to leave France to blossom ultimately in the English Premiership.

Manchester United have publicly admired 20-year-old Benzema, the French league's top scorer this season who scored a fine goal against them in Lyon.

The exodus of French stars has certainly bolstered the national team but at the same time the level of domestic competition has dropped off leaving Lyon almost in a league of their own in recent years.

Former France international Didier Six, who had spells with England's Aston Villa and Germany's Stuttgart, said top players would follow the money.

"The debate should centre on why Lyon is not able to hold onto Benzema. In France, we pay too much tax," complained Six.

He advised Benzema not to make the move too early.

"I think he still needs to mature a little bit," said Six, although Anelka hit stardom with Arsenal while still in his teens while Henry endured a difficult few months at Juventus aged 21 before Arsene Wenger rescued him with a move to the Gunners.

For now Benzema and company must focus on Bordeaux, who thumped PSG last Sunday.

Brazilian star Geraldo Wendel, who hit a hattrick in that encounter, says the Girondins must seize their moment.

"If we beat Lyon the title could be ours - but if we lose we can give up all hope," he said.

Lyon will keep faith with fit-again Brazilian defender Cris, to the detriment of Jean-Alain Boumsong, while Laurent Blanc's Bordeaux welcome back deep-lying midfielder Alou Diarra from suspension.

At the other end of the table, the interest focuses on PSG's attempts to beat the drop as they head to Rennes on Saturday.

Nobody is talking about a crisis at PSG just yet. Indeed, were they to win three games on a roll they would be heading for the top five rather than the second division while they also have the league cup final to look forward to on March 29.

Yet a return of seven league wins all season is a paltry return for the capital club.

To add to the club's concerns, the Parisians are without striker Peguy Luyindula, who has a thigh strain, while combative midfielder Jerome Rothen has a viral infection.

In addition, Portuguese striker Pauleta curtailed his training Thursday complaining of a sore thigh, though he expects to be fit for a must win game against a Rennes side three points ahead of them.

Of interest to Parisian fans will be the match between Toulouse and Sochaux, the sides immediately below them.

Marseille, still in the UEFA Cup, will Sunday seek to obtain a home win over St Etienne which could take the southerners into third spot, which come season's end will be worth a place in the Champions League preliminaries.

Fixtures

Saturday

Rennes v Paris SG (1610 GMT)

Auxerre v Lens

Caen v Lorient

Nancy v Monaco

Nice v Le Mans

Strasbourg v Metz

Toulouse v Sochaux

Valenciennes v Lille - (all 1900 GMT)

Sunday

Marseille v St Etienne (1700)

Lyon v Bordeaux (1955)