Derrius Guice is the No. 12 rusher in the SEC.

The LSU season is halfway over and Arden Key has half a sack and Rashard Lawrence has 1.5.

Some of the Tigers’ most important players have been limited by injury and even though enough role players have had an impact for LSU to go 4-2 and knock off then-No. 21 Florida last Saturday, the Tigers’ biggest impact players must be at their best if LSU is going to have a chance to beat No. 11 Auburn this Saturday in Tiger Stadium.

That means Guice, the leading rusher in the SEC last season, has to shake off a nagging leg injury and lead the run game. He hasn’t had a 100-yard game since Sept. 9.

It means Darrel Williams, also hobbled by injury Saturday, has to complement Guice. Williams ran for five touchdowns in the first four games, but has none in the past two games. In those two games, which includes a 24-21 loss to Troy in which Williams injured an ankle, he has averaged 3.6 yards; his season average is 4.9.

It means Key, who missed the first two games and has yet to regain his record-setting form after offseason shoulder surgery, has to provide a consistent pass rush even if the linebacker doesn’t compile sacks at the rate he did last season when he had a school-record 12.

It means Lawrence, whom coach Ed Orgeron has called the Tigers’ best defensive player, has to be part of a top-flight one-two punch with Key.

It doesn’t mean increased production from Guice, Williams, Key and Lawrence is all the Tigers need to inject themselves into the SEC West conversation, though it’s the primary need.

LSU still needs complementary players to have an impact.

The last two weeks it has been Christian LaCouture and Greg Gilmore on the defensive line, which has missed Lawrence on the edge. LaCouture had two sacks against Troy two weeks ago, in what Orgeron called the senior’s best game, and another sack against Florida. Gilmore has had a sack in each of the last two games. Corey Thompson also has helped fill the void with a team-high four sacks this season.

Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Connor Culp, who wasn’t the primary kicker when the season started, stepped forward and made a 38-yard field goal, the Tigers’ only try against the Gators. LSU has had constant trouble with field goals since the start of the season, making just 4 of 8, so any stability in that area is important.

Freshman Zach Von Rosenberg is averaging 42.4 yards a punt on nine attempts; Josh Growden averaged 37.5 yards in 16 tries.

Zach Von Rosenberg, who wasn’t the punter when the season started, dropped a 48-yarder that was downed at the Florida 4 with 4:01 left in the game. One first down and 21 yards later, the Gators gave the ball up on downs and the Tigers ran out the clock.

LSU had built its 17-16 advantage in part because freshman Tory Carter caught a 2-yard touchdown pass and senior wide receiver Russell Gage led the team with 52 rushing yards, which included a 30-yard touchdown.

Gage was one of three receivers to rush the ball and they totaled 105 yards; Guice and Williams combined for 85 as the only two running backs to have carries.

Fullbacks catching touchdown passes, receivers running for yards and touchdowns and supporting players contributing like lead players are necessary for success over the course of a season.

But to beat Auburn this week, LSU needs its star players to be stars.