Toulouse midfielder Moussa Sissoko believes his side have nothing to lose when they travel to Lille for Sunday's Ligue 1 clash.
TFC are fourth in the league table, one place and three points behind Rudi Garcia's side who are chasing an automatic qualifying place for the UEFA Champions League.
"We are fourth, three points behind Lille, and it's true that if we can play a good game there, we can go level on points," Sissoko told the club's official website.
"Everybody was not expecting us to be in this position this early in the season.
"Against Lille, it will be a big game. We will be going there very motivated and uninhibited, hoping for a good result.
"I think we will have nothing to lose because people see Lille as the favorites."
Toulouse approach the fixture having completed back-to-back wins over Auxerre and Rennes while Lille comprehensively beat Valenciennes and Evian in the previous two rounds.
Lille defender Mauro Cetto believes the result of the match will go a long way to deciding Champions League qualification.
Cetto, who played for Toulouse between 2008-2011, expects a tough challenge against his former club.
"We all know that it is an important game for both teams," Cetto told the club's official website, www.losc.fr.
"If we beat Toulouse we will maintain the distance in the standings. Conversely, if they beat us they will be on the same number of points, so I think this confrontation will count towards qualification in the Champions League, even if others remain behind.
"Toulouse are a tough team to play. Remember that they have the best defense of the championship.
"It will not be easy to create chances."