The fact a win would see them climb to fourth in the La Liga standings should be enough incentive for in-form Athletic to give their best in the clash with the league leaders.

Meanwhile, Barcelona go into the difficult away match on the back of the first defeat of the season, meaning they will be very motivated to win at new San Mames.

Athletic found themselves in some problems after seeing Marcelo Bielsa leave his post, but it is now clear that club’s decision to replace him with Ernesto Valverde has been spot on.

The talented coach quickly got los Leones playing to their potential, with the team becoming serious top 4 contenders in La Liga.

While already winning three away fixtures this term, Athletic have largely impressed at the new San Mames, winning five of seven games there while sharing spoils with Valencia and Elche.

And with los Leones going into this match on the back of two straight victories, you should know they are 6.00 (5/1) to inflict the first league defeat of the season on Barcelona.

Aritz Aduriz serves the final game of his two-match ban, whereas Kike Sola is the only player sidelined through injury at the moment.

Carlos Gurpegui has fully recovered from injury, but latest reports suggest Aymeric Laporte and Mikel San Jose will be preferred in the heart of defence.

Probable starting line-up (4-3-3): Iraizoz – Iraola, San Jose, Laporte, Balenziaga – Iturraspe, Herrera, Mikel Rico – Susaeta, Guillermo, Muniain.

Barcelona still sit comfortably at the La Liga summit, three and six points clear of Atletico and Real respectively, but they have some cause for concern ahead of the trip to Basque country.

Namely, the Catalans have just suffered the first defeat of the season, having lost to Ajax in the Champions League, and even with the match not that important, the players will be under pressure to prove it was just a one-off result.

With Lionel Messi set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines, other key players will have to start pulling the weight, but this is clearly not the right time to be facing in-form Athletic Bilbao.

Even so, nobody is surprised the Catalans have been made 1.67 (2/3) favourites, even if the odds clearly suggest this will be no walk in the park.

Boss Gerardo Martino is likely to make some changes to the side that lost to Ajax, with Sergio Busquets and Alexis Sanchez among those set to be recalled.

The good news is both Dani Alves and Adriano Correia have resumed full training, although Jordi Alba and Victor Valdes are not yet ready to return.

Probable starting line-up (4-3-3): Pinto – Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Adriano – Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta – Sanchez, Fabregas, Neymar.