Real Madrid could have Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale back as they chase a record 17th successive LaLiga win against Villarreal in midweek.
The high-profile pair were out injured as Los Blancos won 2-0 at Espanyol on Sunday to equal Barcelona's all-time best mark of 16 straight wins in the top division.
That result also kept them three points clear at the top of the table with four wins from four, ahead of Barca and Las Palmas.
Ronaldo and Bale both returned to training on Monday as preparations began for the visit of Villarreal on Wednesday.
James Rodriguez made the most of his chance to shine by opening the scoring against Espanyol, with Karim Benzema grabbing the other goal, but it remains to be seen whether the Colombian retains his place.
Coach Zinedine Zidane, who now has a fitness doubt over midfielder Casemiro, has indicated changes are likely.
In remarks reported on realmadrid.com, Zidane said: "When the rotations work out you can only be happy - as one goes in, another one comes out and everyone does really well.
"We're always going to rotate players. We've got quality players and we're going to carry on this way."
A full programme of top-flight matches is being played during the week. Also on Wednesday, second-placed Barcelona face a tough test against Atletico Madrid at the Nou Camp.
Both sides seem to be in good free-scoring form. Barca won 5-1 at Leganes over the weekend, days after hammering Celtic 7-0 in the Champions League, while Atletico thrashed Sporting Gijon 5-0 in their last outing. Atletico also boast the best defence in the competition having conceded just once in four games.
The match comes amid an intensive spell for both sides, with seven games being played in just over three weeks, and Barca boss Luis Enrique also needs to make the most of his squad.
"That's three of the seven games in 23 days out of the way," Enrique told fcbarcelona.com after victory on Saturday.
"We know we have a long season ahead of us and that's why we'll need all the players, both as individuals and as a unit. We have to share the workload. You can't get through a season with just 11 players."
Elsewhere, third-placed Las Palmas, who continued their fine start to the campaign with victory over Malaga on Saturday, travel to Real Sociedad.
Coach Quique Setienhas warned his team will need to step up the intensity to maintain their lofty position.
He told the club's website, www.udlaspalmas.es: "I think the team has generally been good but we can do better. We lost a little sparkle and it is my task to make sure everyone is at full intensity."
Two other games take place on Wednesday, with winless Celta Vigo and Granada hosting Sporting Gijon and Athletic Bilbao respectively. They come after the programme begins on Tuesday with the clash of city rivals Sevilla and Real Betis at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, while Malaga chase their first win of the season against Eibar.
On Thursday Deportivo la Coruna host Leganes, Osasuna take on Espanyol and Alaves travel to Valencia.
Source: PA-WIRE
