Kaka's successful return to Real Madrid's lineup has provided the Spanish title contenders with a lift going into a league match against third-place Villarreal.
The Brazil midfielder played for the first time since the World Cup in Monday's 3-2 win over Getafe and is expected to take part in Sunday's game at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium with Madrid two points behind leader Barcelona.
Kaka, who recovered from knee surgery and a groin problem, played 15 minutes in his first club appearance since May. His return coincides with news that striker Gonzalo Higuain will be unavailable for at least two months because of back surgery, leaving Karim Benzema as lone striker.
"That's not a problem to me," Kaka said. "There are a lot of players who can cover those places and if I have to help out in another position I will."
Despite the absence of Higuain, Madrid coach Jose Mourinho said it was doubtful that the team would sign a new striker in the January transfer window due to the club's hefty spending over the past two seasons, which includes Kaka's ?65 million (then $93.5 million) transfer from AC Milan.
"After the investments made last year and this year there is little chance of signing another striker," the Portuguese coach said. "It seems to me that we'll be with this group of players until the end of the season."
Cristiano Ronaldo is battling a bout of the flu but is unlikely to miss his first league game of the season.
Villarreal, which is eight points behind Madrid in third, is without Brazil striker Nilmar, who underwent knee surgery earlier this week.
Barcelona, meanwhile, travels to Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday with Lionel Messi looking to get on the scoresheet for the first time in 2011.
Messi hasn't scored since mid-December but has only played in two of Barcelona's last four games, with Pedro Rodriguez making up for the Argentina forward's absence with four goals over that spell.
"We're league leaders and we're alive in the Champions League so not losing our hunger is key," Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez said Thursday.
Julio Baptista and Martin Demichelis could make their Malaga league debuts Saturday against Athletic Bilbao as the club looks to climb further away from the relegation zone. Malaga is 16th in the Spanish league, just three points clear of the drop zone.
Royston Drenthe is unlikely to be available for Hercules' match against Atletico Madrid on Monday after ending a self-imposed strike over unpaid wages by returning to training Thursday. The Dutch player has drawn the ire of local fans after threatening to return to Madrid - which sent him to the Alicante club on loan - and could face a fine for missing a 3-0 loss to Mallorca without permission.
Also, it's: Real Sociedad vs. Sevilla; Mallorca vs. Almeria; Osasuna vs. Getafe; Espanyol vs. Zaragoza; Racing Santander vs. Sporting Gijon; and Levante vs. Valencia.
