Arminia Bielefeld take on Hertha Berlin in the Bundesliga on Sunday with the hosts looking to move out of the bottom three with a victory.
Hertha, meanwhile, are looking to build on last weekend's morale boosting 3-0 win against Schalke 04 and continue their upwards trajectory in the table.
Match preview
It has been a difficult return to Germany's top flight for Arminia, who are competing in the Bundesliga for the first time since being relegated in the 2008-09 season.
However, had someone offered Uwe Neuhaus being one point from safety after 14 matches, it is likely he would have accepted that proposition given the resources at his disposal.
Indeed, Arminia's lack of attacking threat has been telling in recent matches, with Neuhaus's side failing to score in three of their last four league games. The one exception, of course, was the crucial 1-0 win at Schalke prior to the winter break, but The Blues failed to even register a shot on target once again in Saturday's 1-0 defeat to Borussia Monchengladbach.
Breel Embolo missed a string of chances before breaking away in the second half and firing Marco Rose's side into the lead, with Sergio Cordova's first-half strike the closest Arminia came to scoring themselves. However, Hertha are likely to be a little more charitable in terms of possession and chances offered, with the hosts able to move to within three points of their forthcoming opponents in the table with a victory.
Hertha's victory against Schalke was a crucial one, not just in terms of the three points which saw Bruno Labbadia's side rise to 12th in the table, but also the confidence which it should deliver to his side in reaffirming how superior they can be compared to the sides towards the bottom of the table.
Matteo Guendouzi, on loan from Arsenal, broke the deadlock with a fine curling effort inside the far post after Dodi Ludebakio and Mark Uth had been denied for either side by fine saves from Ralf Fahrmann and Alexander Schwolow respectively.
Summer signing Jhon Cordoba's return from injury was undoubtedly a major boost to Hertha, with the forward capping his comeback with a clinical finish in the second half after a fine cutback by Vladimir Darida, before the Slovakian played a marvellous one-two with Krzysztof Piatek, allowing the Poland striker to display his trademark unerring composure in front of goal and seal the victory.
Labbadia's side should now head to Bielefeld full of confidence that they can record back-to-back victories for the first time this season, with hopes of moving into the top half in the near future a strong possibility given their next four fixtures are against the four sides currently directly below them in the table.
Arminia Bielefeld Bundesliga form: LWLLWL
Hertha Berlin Bundesliga form: DWDDLW
Team News
Arminia are without Jacob Barrett Laursen and Noel Niemann due to injury, with Andreas Voglsammer a doubt.
Arne Maier, who is on loan at Neuhaus's side from Hertha, will be hoping for a start against his parent club.
Hertha, meanwhile, will not have Javairo Dilrosun, Dedryck Boyata, Santiago Ascacibar or Mathew Leckie available for the trip to Bielefeld due to injury.
Piatek may have to remain content with a super-sub role now that Cordoba is fit and available again, with Labbadia seemingly preferring a system which only utilises one striker.
Arminia Bielefeld possible starting lineup:
Ortega; Brunner, Pieper, Van der Hoorn, De Medina; Doan, Prietl, Hartel, Gebauer; Klos, Cordova
Hertha Berlin possible starting lineup:
Schwolow; Pekarik, Stark, Alderete, Plattenhardt; Darida, Tousart, Guendouzi; Lukebakio, Cordoba, Cunha
We say: Arminia Bielefeld 0-2 Hertha Berlin
With Arminia tending to get themselves in trouble defensively when playing out from the back this season, we can envisage this playing into Hertha's hands on Sunday.
Labbadia's side tend to thrive when able to counter-attack and counter-press, with the likes of Cordoba and Matheus Cunha likely to have too much quality for Neuhaus's side.
