Robert Pires knows Villarreal cannot afford to ease off if they want to secure an historic second-placed finish in La Liga this season.Manuel Pellegrini's side, who host Getafe on Sunday, are four points ahead of Barcelona with four matches left to play, and hold the edge in head-to-heads over the Champions League semi-finalists.

Barca's exit from Europe at the hands of Manchester United has seen local media flooded with speculation over a possible clear-out at the Catalan club, as they head towards the end of a second season without any silverware.

But Pires is not taken in by the talk of a crisis at their rivals.

"We have to be careful with Barcelona because they are a great team with great players who will fight to the very end," the former Arsenal player said.

"I don't think they are dead. You can never write off a team with the quality they have."

Villarreal's highest-ever finish in the league was third in 2005, and the following season they went on to reach Champions League semi-finals where they lost to Arsenal.

"To finish second would be something historic for this club and we are going all out to achieve this aim," Pires added.

"We would also like to try to delay Real Madrid's winning of the title if we can."

The leaders have a 10-point advantage at the top, and will be guaranteed the title without kicking a ball if Villarreal fail to beat Getafe. Madrid visit Osasuna in the late game on Sunday.

Pellegrini will be without midfielder Sebastian Eguren, who is suspended.

Getafe are limping towards the end of what has turned out to be a crushingly disappointing campaign in the last few weeks, with their exit from the UEFA Cup at the quarter-final stage and their defeat in the Copa del Rey final.

A run of six league games without a win has left them 13th in the standings and only four points above the relegation places.

Coach Michael Laudrup has appealed to the side's sense of the heroic to pull out another big performance against Villarreal.

"We need to treat Villarreal as if they were Real Madrid or Barcelona (both of whom Getafe have beaten in the league this season)," the former Denmark international said.

"Villarreal deserve to be where they are. They beat us 3-1 in the Coliseum in December and to my mind are the best team we have played this season.

"We need to get at least a point or better all three if we are to secure our position in the top flight.

"Real beating Osasuna helps us but we need to focus on our own game. Real will eventually be champions whatever happens in our match."

Laudrup will be without the suspended Francisco Casquero and injured Francisco Sousa, but Fabio Celestini returns to the side and will probably line up with Ruben De la Red in the centre of midfield.

Nigeria striker Ikechukwu Uche is close to returning from a torn muscle but is likely be held back until next week's midweek fixtures.

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