'Marseille are favourites'

"They're on form and they're above us in the standings, which means they're the favourites and it will take a great performance to beat them," Lacombe told reporters on Tuesday.

Marseille, who have won the Cup a record 10 times but not lifted it since 1989, lie fifth in the Ligue 1 standings, three spots above PSG.

The southerners are great form, having knocked out Olympique Lyon in the Cup quarter-finals before thrashing Nancy 6-0 in Ligue 1 and beating Rennes 3-0 in the Cup semi-finals.

More than 2,000 police will be deployed around the Stade de France for the match between the two bitter foes, who are facing each other in the French Cup final for the first time.

"We're preparing for this as for any other match and we're careful to avoid unwanted pressure," said Lacombe.

"This is a football match and the focus must be on football".

Matches between PSG and OM are always regarded as high risk.

The last meeting between the two clubs, in March, resulted in a French Football Federation (FFF) ethics commission hearing because Marseille fielded a B team and asked their supporters not to travel to the match in Paris, citing security fears.