The mouthwatering clash at the Bombonera, one of the many 'clasicos' between the 'Big Five', comes with just 15 points to play for in the Apertura title race.
"If we win, it's going to get very difficult for the teams behind us to catch us. If we don't win, the objective will be not to lose so the advantage we have today does not get smaller," Boca defender Facundo Roncaglia told reporters.
Second-placed Racing's captain Claudio Yacob added: "We'll attack them all the time. With a draw they'll be too far [ahead] mathematically."
Racing's Colombia striker Teofilo Gutierrez is a doubt having missed training on Thursday when he should have returned from Tuesday's World Cup qualifier against Argentina in his home country.
San Lorenzo lost 1-0 to All Boys on Saturday in a match postponed two weeks earlier when a Saints 'barra brava' fan angry at the team's performances attacked defender Jonathan Bottinelli after training. All Boys won with an own goal by Bottinelli.
The Monumental was packed with about 45,000 fans for River's return home on Sunday after a five-match ground suspension following crowd violence when they were relegated at the Monumental in June.
