However, Barca will have to go into battle against the Basques without the Spanish first division's top scorer Samuel Eto'o, who is on international duty for Cameroon at the African Nations Cup, and the suspended Deco.

"It's a drag Samuel is not here because he makes a big difference. I'm glad we have good back up with Henrik (Larsson)," said Ronal-dinho this week.

"But if the coach wants to utilise me as a number nine that would be fine as well. It wouldn't be new for me," added Barca's two-time World Player of the Year.

Nevertheless, all the indications are that Rijkaard will opt for Larsson and keep Ronaldinho in his regular role of causing mayhem just behind the main target man.

To fill the super-quick boots of Deco for the next two games, after the Portuguese international was sent off in last Sunday's scrappy 2-1 win against Athletic Bilbao, Rijkaard has only a few options.

The most likely solution for the Dutch coach, with midfield playmaker Xavi Hernandez still out injured, is to bring Andres Iniesta into the centre of the midfield and move Mark van Bommel out to the right flank.

Barcelona top the table at the halfway point in the season with 46 points, seven ahead of surprise package Osasuna who are still in second despite losing for the first time in 11 games last Saturday when they went down 2-0 at third-placed Valencia. The Pamplona-based side will try to ensure that the gap between themselves and Barcelona does not get any wider with a good result at Villarreal on Sunday but Osasuna will be without their inspirational Cameroon winger Achille Webo, who is also in Egypt at the African Nations Cup.

Villarreal, who have midfielder Hector Font suspended, have struggled since the start of the year, having failed to score in their last three league outings and slipped to sixth.

Real Madrid moved up to fourth on the strength of their 4-2 win over Sevilla last Sunday, arguably their best performance in a lacklustre season.

"I'm happy because we are finally starting to show what we are capable of," said Real Madrid coach Juan Ramon Lopez Caro whose team face Cadiz on Saturday.

Lopez Caro's one selection dilemma, with Raul and Ronaldo still injured, is whether to keep faith up front with the unimpressive Julio Baptista or start with 20-year-old Roberto Soldado.