Schumacher has not won in Monaco since 2001

World champion Fernando Alonso believes that starting positions on the grid will be crucial on the tight circuit.

But Schumacher, seeking to match Ayrton Senna's six Monaco wins, said: "There is a lot you can achieve by having the right strategy if you're not on pole.

"There are chances of winning from positions three, four or five."

Alonso, who leads Schumacher in the drivers' championship by 54 points to 39, is determined to start at the front as he aims to build on his win in Barcelona last time out.

He said: "It's all about qualifying. We will set the car up more for qualifying than for the race.

People think that qualifying could signal the outcome - I don't think so Michael Schumacher

"It's the only place we do that. I think everybody will be a little worried about qualifying.

"In Monaco, you normally have a lot of traffic in every session and this year qualifying will be very tough.

"For sure, we will have a different strategy to make sure we get into the top ten."

But Schumacher - chasing his first Monaco win in five years - believes a great race-day drive could take the win, even from further back on the grid.

He said: "Lots of people think that qualifying could signal the outcome of the race, but I don't think so."