Top of the French league for the first time in 40 years, Rennes looks set to extend its unbeaten run to nine games when it travels to struggling Lens on Sunday.
Despite being a perpetual outsider in the title race and a lack of attacking options this season, Rennes has made the most of a poor start to the campaign by France's top clubs. It leads second-place Saint-Etienne by one point, with Lille, Toulouse and Brest three points further back.
Despite its remarkable start, Rennes coach Frederic Antonetti is convinced his side needs to reinforce its attack after selling top strikers Asamoah Gyan, Jimmy Briand, Ismael Bangoura and Moussa Sow during the offseason.
Rennes signed Montpellier's Victor Hugo Montano to make up for those departures but the Colombian player - currently the only real striker in the squad - is out until November with a hamstring injury.
"To play 38 matches with just one forward is impossible," Antonetti said. "In defense and midfield, we can compete. But up front, we don't have the players that our position in the table requires."
Rennes is reportedly targeting Mevlut Erding of Paris Saint-Germain, but any move for the Turkish striker is very unlikely to happen before the January transfer window and Antonetti could be forced to play midfielder Sylvain Marveaux up front during Montano's recovery.
Several injuries in the back line have also hampered the club's ambitions, although Rennes still boasts the best defense in the league with only four goals conceded.
After beating Toulouse to move top of the standings, Rennes' general manager Pierre Dreossi admitted he needs to buy a new striker and praised the coach's hard work.
"We didn't get to the top by chance," Dreossi said. "We took 18 points from eight games, that's a lot. It's not just because we beat Toulouse that we're the league leaders. Don't forget we also won at Nice, against Sochaux and drew in Paris. This is the result of the hard work we started two months ago."
The mood is very different in Lens, with the northern club having won just one match this season and lying second from bottom with five points.
Coach Jean-Guy Wallemme is under pressure and would be satisfied with a draw on Sunday.
"There will be some changes, but I'm not going to start a revolution against Rennes," Wallemme said. "We need to get our confidence back and that needs to start with putting on a good defensive performance. We're at home to the league leader, our goal is to take a point."
Three key players could return for Lens after right-back Romain Danze recovered from a knee injury, France defender Rod Fanni started running again after a groin strain and Nigeria defender Onyekachi Apam looks to have overcome a knee problem.
Still unbeaten this season, third-placed Lille will face its toughest test so far when it travels to Lyon, which is languishing in 17th place.
The seven-time champions have claimed only two wins this season but will receive a major boost with the return from injury of Brazilian defender Cris.
"We can still do it. At the moment, when we concede a goal, our heads go down too quickly, but with the two recent wins (at Hapoel Tel-Aviv in the Champions League and Nancy) our confidence has come back, and we are playing with a smile on our faces again," said Cris.
"On paper we have a formidable team. We just need to prove it on the pitch."
Saint-Etienne is away to Nice while defending champion Marseille hosts Nancy.
Also Saturday, it's: Auxerre vs. Bordeaux; Brest vs. Arles; Caen vs. Monaco; Montpellier vs. Sochaux and Toulouse vs. Paris Saint-Germain.
Valenciennes travels to Lorient for Sunday's other match.
