Nice could unleash fit-again Mario Balotelli on Paris St Germain from the first whistle tomorrow as the Ligue 1 pace-setters head to the capital to tackle the title favourites.

The Italian striker missed a month of action due to a calf injury but played 45 minutes in the UEFA Europa League against Krasnodar on Thursday.

And after coming through that run-out without doing any more damage, Balotelli is in contention to start for the leaders at the Parc des Princes in the headline game of the weekend programme.

Nice boss Lucien Favre said: “It was his first game back. He had pain in both calves at half-time. But it doesn’t look like anything too serious, it was just fatigue. We had planned to take him off.”

Favre added: “Sunday at the Parc des Princes? I don’t yet know what team I’ll field. What’s important is to maintain our balance.”

By the time Nice run out in the capital tomorrow evening, they may have been dislodged from top spot in Ligue 1.

Monaco have a clash with Bordeaux today, and the principality side would nudge up from second place with a victory.

Paris St Germain head into the weekend four points behind Nice, knowing that losing any further ground would majorly complicate their task as they pursue a fifth successive French league title.

PSG spirits

A draw with Ludogorets in the Champions League in midweek was a setback to the Parisians, meaning they finished as runners-up to Arsenal rather than winners of their first-round group, and raising the possibility of a tough last-16 tie.

Beating Nice would lift spirits, and PSG are aiming to be flying at home before resuming their European campaign.

Midfielder Thiago Motta said: “We hope to be in form when we play the last 16 in February because it’s there that it’ll be the most difficult.

“On Sunday (tomorrow), we’re going to play against a very good Nice team, but above all we want to win this match because it’s very important for our pursuit of the championship.”