Deportivo La Coruna goalkeeper German Lux is hoping fellow Argentinian Lionel Messi will play for Barcelona on Saturday when the teams meet at the Camp Nou.
Messi has been sidelined since injuring his groin in a 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid last month but returned to training on Wednesday and is expected to make his comeback against Depor.
Lux told his club's website: "From a personal standpoint, I prefer to play against the best. You have to enjoy the gifts that football offers which are marvelous: to play a game at Barcelona's ground, against the best players in the world.
"I would like for Messi to play if he has recovered."
Barca beat Sporting Gijon and Borussia Monchengladbach without Messi but lost to Celta Vigo.
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"Even if Messi does not play, someone else will and Barcelona have great players so the level of difficulty is still high," said Lux, who has started in every game for a Depor side who have won two and lost three of their first seven league encounters.
The Galician outfit went into the international break on the back of a 2-1 home win over Sporting Gijon.
"The team is well and we have all the players available except for Joselu," the 34-year-old said.
Spanish striker Joselu, on a season-long loan from Stoke City, sprained his knee on Sept. 13 and is not expected back until next month.
"We are enthusiastic and have good expectations," Lux said.
"We are improving and we want to continue to do so."
Depor have not given away more than two goals in a game this campaign while Barca showed defensive frailties in their last game, a 4-3 defeat at Celta Vigo, which was their second loss of the campaign.
"We need to give a solid performance, show order in defence, which is something that characterises us, and see what we can do in attack," Lux said.
"But we know how difficult these type of games are because it's never easy to play in these venues."
Depor held Barca to a 2-2 draw at the Camp Nou last season but were hammered 8-0 at the Riazor Stadium by Luis Enrique's men on April 21, with Luis Suarez scoring four goals in that game.
They have not beaten Barca in any of their last 12 league meetings. The last time they prevailed against the La Liga giants was in April 2008, a 2-0 win at the Riazor.
"Our aim is to go there and hand in a good performance," Lux said. "A draw would be a marvelous result for us but let's wait and see what happens."