Vedran Runje will not relinquish his first team spot at Marseille meekly after club chairman Christophe Bouchet confirmed the desire to bring Fabien Barthez back to Stade Velodrome.
L´OM have been mooted as the club most likely to terminate Barthez´s current Manchester United misery with a New Year loan swoop in the pipeline.
A serious knee injury to Cedric Carrasso has prompted Marseille to seek temporary cover and Barthez has emerged as the prime candidate to fill the void.
Bouchet admits the France number one would be a valuable addition to the ranks as he believes Barthez´s presence would aid Runje´s elevation to the top of the goalkeeping tree.
Croatian shot stopper Runje can understand the current fervour for Barthez to be enticed back to the South Coast but will not give up his role in the side without a fight.
" You have to be strong in your mind to remain serene and play calmly," said Runje.
" Barthez is a great keeper and I can understand the whole of France wants to see him play before Euro 2004.
" At the moment we are the best defence in Le Championnat and I believe I can be proud of my performances.
" No one ever gave me any guarantees and I don´t expect any. Anyway, if there is acceptable competition, I won´t give up."
Barthez has been warned by Les Bleus coach Jacques Santini that he must secure regular first team action to retain his place as the country´s number one for Euro 2004.
L´OM are prepared to offer the 32-year-old that lifeline and want to bring him back to Stade Velodrome on a loan deal with a view to a permanent move.
But Bouchet concedes that while Barthez´s presence would benefit Runje´s development, the Red Devils outcast is not the only potential recruit.
" We have three solutions and Barthez is the only one whose name we can say," Bouchet told L´Equipe. " Barthez at l´OM is a good solution for Manchester United, for us and for Barthez.
" For Vedran, this work with Fabien could represent an opportunity to take advantage of his experience and his mastery. It would allow him to reach a new step in terms of reaching the world´s top five.
" Vedran is still young, he has a slight improvement to make and this arrival could accelerate it.
" This operation is legitimate to us if we want to reach the highest level.
" Logically, Alex Ferguson´s position is to defend his club´s interests. It can be a loan with an option to buy. In our situation, it can be settled quickly."