Manolo Jimenez's team head into the weekend in sixth spot, two points behind fifth-placed Racing Santander and three adrift of Atletico in fourth.

Sevilla have won their last two matches - 3-2 at Real Mallorca and 2-0 against Villarreal - to get themselves back in the hunt to claim a place in Europe's premier competition for the second successive season.

And Palop knows there must be no let-up in form and focus now, with 18 points still up for grabs in La Liga.

"The team has picked up, we're three points away and there's hope," he said.

"But I think we're going to need all six wins to do it. We have to beat all the rest and the first one is Almeria."

Palop is wary of the threat posed by Almeria from set-pieces but does not think Saturday's encounter at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan will be decided in such fashion.

He said: "Goals from set-pieces are there, and it's true we concede more than is normal and Almeria have won plenty of games this way, but I don't think that this game will be decided from set-pieces."

The Andalusian outfit could move level on points with Atletico if Javier Aguirre's team lose at home to Sevilla's city rivals Real Betis.

And Palop has no problem admitting he wants his team's arch enemies to triumph on Saturday.

"I want Betis to win," said the 34-year-old stopper.

"You have to look out for your team and who thinks otherwise is wrong. If they beat Atletico they'll do us a massive favour which we may return later on."

Coach Jimenez does not expect his team to have it all their own way this weekend, however, with Almeria only six points behind his team with six games remaining.

He said: "What Almeria are doing is magnificent. As an Andalusian I'm proud of the work being done by the team and I'm grateful for the compliments I got from (coach Unai) Emery and I also really rate what he is doing.

"They play football like a top side."

Unai Emery's team triumphed 1-0 over Villarreal last time out, and have suffered only one defeat - 6-3 at Atletico Madrid on April 6 - in their last five matches.

Jimenez will be without Julien Escude, Javi Navarro and Ivica Dragutinovic through injury and Enzo Maresca is suspended, but Adriano should shake off a knock in time to play.

For Almeria, Albert Crusat misses out through suspension but Aitor Lopez Rekarte is expected to have recovered from a knock.

Emery remains hopeful his seventh-placed team could clinch a UEFA Cup berth, but for now is focusing only on Saturday's trip to Seville.

"We will continue to take one game at a time, as we have done for the whole of the season," he said.