The San Francisco 49ers have not performed to their standard this season and find their playoff hopes starting to dwindle heading into Sunday's crucial Week 12 matchup with the Green Bay Packers.

However, the 49ers are packed with playmakers on both sides of the ball.

And, as he puts together his offensive gameplan to try to help the Packers get a measure of revenge for last season's dramatic playoff defeat to the 49ers, there is one defensive player of whom Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur is particularly fearful.

All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner remains the best in the game at his position, and LaFleur has been eager to warn his team against falling victim to one of Warner's defining traits.

Asked about the 49ers' defense in his Wednesday press conference, LaFleur said: "They're just really sound, they're really physical. They've got elite players on every level. 

"I think, like I showed the team today, Fred Warner is an animal. And I think it all starts with him and just his relentless attack of the football. It's very rare that you see somebody that can punch and tackle and take the ball away, at a rate he does. 

"So then guys like [Nick] Bosa, they've got a lot of great players. It's obviously a scheme that we like and they play it very well."

LaFleur's concern about Warner's ability to punch the ball out is understandable. He has forced a league-high four fumbles this season while he has also intercepted two passes, including one returned for a touchdown.

But he will also be paying close attention to the 49ers' injury report pertaining to Bosa, who missed practice on Wednesday after suffering a second hip/oblique injury in last Sunday's surprise loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

LaFleur conceded the gameplan will be different if Bosa is unable to go

"Yeah, there's some plays that you certainly would not want to do with him in the game," LaFleur said. 

"He's that type of player. He's a game wrecker and he can definitely impact a game."

Bosa leads the 49ers with seven sacks this season. For the 49ers to have the best chance of getting back on track and improving to 6-5, they'll need both him and Warner to be impacting the game as much as possible.

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