Marc Skinner’s side are guaranteed a spot in at least the play-offs, however victory over Lyon at the Progress With Unity Stadium on Wednesday would go a long way towards securing a berth in the league phase’s top four.
That would mean progress straight through to next spring’s quarter-finals, and importantly there would be no need to tackle an energy-sapping two-legged eliminator in February.
Before we get to that stage, the 18-time French champions will provide formidable opposition as one of only three teams left unbeaten in this season’s competition. Lyon have won the Champions League a record eight times and, although Barcelona have overtaken them as the continent's pre-eminent force in recent years, they are still among the favourites to lift the trophy in Oslo next May.