Le Mans are expected to line up in their usual 4-3-3, with Louis Mafouta central to any attacking threat in front of a three-man midfield. The on-loan striker has the physicality to occupy Lorient's back three, but he will be starved of service if the hosts cannot find a way through the middle. Erwan Coles is struggling to return to full fitness and could miss out again, robbing Le Mans of a midfield runner who can break lines. Without him, the onus falls on the wide forwards to pin back Lorient's wing-backs and create overloads in the half-spaces.

Lorient's 3-4-2-1 is a tactical straitjacket for opponents who want to play through the middle. Noah Mbamba sits deep and dictates tempo, while the two attacking midfielders, likely Gabin Bernardeau and Jean-Victor Makengo, drift into pockets between Le Mans' midfield and defence. The wing-backs, Panos Katseris and Kan-Guy Kouassi, provide the width, and with Montassar Talbi and Nathaniel Adjei marshalling the box, Yvon Mvogo has one of the safest pairs of hands in the league behind him. This is a unit that concedes chances grudgingly.

The game state is likely to be dictated by Lorient's pressing traps. They will invite Le Mans to build from the back, then spring forward as a pack, using their league-leading interception numbers to turn defence into attack in seconds. Le Mans' 4-3-3 can be exposed in the channels if the full-backs push too high, and Dujeux will have drilled his front two to attack those spaces. The hosts will have spells of possession, but the quality of chances will likely fall to the visitors.