David Beckham has confirmed he will play at right-back when Real Madrid visit Real Sociedad on Saturday.

Regular right-back Michel Salgado is suspended so coach Wanderley Luxemburgo has adapted his line-up which will see the England captain drop into defence.

"I have played in that position twice before, when I was at Manchester United," said Beckham.

Fit-again former Everton midfielder Thomas Gravesen will return but Zinedine Zidane is suspended.

Beckham is not the only member of the team to have been made to play out of position since the appointment of Luxemburgo last December.

French playmaker Zidane has been forced out onto the left wing and he believes Real are not getting the best out of him.

"I don't have the acceleration I had when I was 20 or 25," the 32-year-old told Spanish newspaper El Pais.

"If you play on the wing and you're not quick, like me, you can't play your best."

He wants to revert to a central play-making role and added: "Everybody know I'm best there."

Zidane, who says he will walk away from football when his contract with Real expires in 2007, says the game does not get any easier.

"And I think it will get harder," he added.

Barcelona lead the Primera Liga table by six points with five games remaining.

They have a home game against Albacete and any slip by second-placed Madrid would almost certainly end their title ambitions.

But Luxemburgo refuses to concede the title to his rivals.

"Winning the league, or at least allowing ourselves to still have a chance, all depends on us winning on Saturday, because Barca still have to play some difficult games," said Luxemburgo.

"It is, however, hard to maintain the tension in the players if you win your game and you see the day after how your opponents don't slip up."