Eclhe and Malaga are set to square off in what is a genuine relegation six-pointer with both sides very much involved in the survival fight.

Los Franjiverdes may have surprised everyone by gaining promotion to La Liga, but they quickly proved they have what it takes to play at this level.

Fran Escriba’s side played some very good football in the opening exchanges, with a three-match winning run in October and November seriously improving their survival chances.

The team have since suffered a major dip in form, winning just one of next nine games, but there is still no cause for concern as Elche sit four points clear of the bottom three.

Los Franjiverdes had a good chance to make it to the Copa del Rey Last 16 stage having held Villarreal to a 2-2 draw in the first leg, but they were defeated at home in the return match, mostly because boss Fran Escriba opted to rest some of his regular starters for the all-important clash against Malaga.

With that in mind, the hosts should be fully fit for the Friday’s La Liga game, where they are 2.25 (5/4) to emerge victorious.

The likes of Carles Gil, Richmond Boakye, Coro and Carlos Sanchez are among those set to be recalled, but David Lomban, Manu del Moral and Alvaro Gimenez remain on the sidelines.

Probable starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Tono – Sapunaru, Pelegrin, Botia, Albacar – R. Perez, Sanchez – Gil, Coro, Fidel – Boakye.

Bernd Schuster agreed to take over the reigns at Malaga at the time when most key players had departed and only low-budget signings had been made.

The mere fact that los Boquerones remain at a safe distance from the bottom three are enough to suggest the German coach is doing a good job, although he would have liked for the team to have picked up few more points, that’s for sure.

Malaga were eliminated from Copa del Rey on away goal rule, but they arrive in Elche full of confidence having recorded three excellent results in the league.

While holding both Villarreal and Osasuna to 1-1 draws on the road, los Boquerones defeated Getafe at their La Rosaleda, and they are 3.60 (13/5) to see off Elche as well.

Roque Santa Cruz, Willy Cabalero and Sergio Sanchez are set to return having been rested in midweek, but Mounir El Hamdaoui and Jose Manuel Casado are out injured.

Probable starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Caballero – Gamez, Sanchez, Weligton, Antunes – Tissone, Camacho – Juanmi, Morales, Eliseu – Santa Cruz.