Marouane Chamakh plays on.

Marouane Chamakh plays on.

Bordeaux coach Laurent Blanc will continue to rely on wantaway striker Marouane Chamakh as the champions look to maintain their strong start to the new Ligue 1 campaign.

After an impressive run of results in pre-season, Les Girondins launched the defence of their title with a 4-1 hammering of Lens last weekend.

Chamakh was a goalscorer in that match and with the Morocco striker still to clinch a desired move to the English Premier League, he remains a key member of Bordeaux's squad, according to Blanc.

"I know that psychologically he isn't in the best of conditions but I think that despite that, he is an important weapon for the Bordeaux team," Blanc said.

Blanc added that Chamakh will be part of his squad for tomorrow's Ligue 1 match at Sochaux, who also began the season with a victory, Czech Republic striker Vaclav Sverkos netting the only goal in the 1-0 win at Auxerre.

"Going over there isn't always easy," Bordeaux left-back Benoit Tremoulinas told the club's website.

"Sochaux are going to do all they can to string together wins, even more so given they are going to be playing at home. It will be a difficult match."

With Ivan Stefanovic having shrugged off a shoulder problem he suffered against Auxerre, Sochaux coach Francis Gillot has an injury-free squad to choose from.

Blanc has no new injury concerns. The former France defender has a selection dilemma at centre-back with three players - Henrique, Marc Planus and Michael Ciani - fighting for two spots.