Werder Bremen and Heidenheim are separated by two points and a place in the Bundesliga table heading into Saturday's round 21 fixture at Weserstadion.
Both sides are undefeated in seven league fixtures, but the home side have picked up more points recently than the division's new boys.
Match preview
Werder Bremen last tasted league defeat in early December, when Stuttgart inflicted a 2-0 defeat on Ole Werner's men to follow a 3-0 loss to high-flying Bayer Leverkusen.
However, the response to those losses has seen Werder secure four victories from their last seven games, including three consecutive victories before Saturday.
One of those wins included a 1-0 triumph at title-chasing Bayern Munich on January 24 — Die Werderaner's first at the mammoth club since 2008 — undoubtedly giving Werner's team confidence heading into wins over Freiburg and Mainz.
This weekend sees Bremen return to Weserstadion, where recent positive results are underscored by accumulating seven points from their last three home fixtures.
Five of the hosts' seven successes this term have been in front of their supporters, and an eighth prevents visiting Heidenheim from supplanting them in the standings.
The Bundesliga new boys may be about six months into their maiden top-flight season, but Frank Schmidt's side are thriving in the big time.
The former defender is already the longest-serving manager at a single club in German history, taking charge of the club in September 2007 and leading the Baden-Wurttemberg outfit to several promotions until this season's first attempt in the top division.
Heidenheim's first-ever Bundesliga victory came against Saturday's opponents, and the visitors should be keen to make the most of those memories from September 2023.
However, Schmidt's men must find ways to turn results into victories if they are keen to consolidate their current position in 10th and push for unexpected European qualification, with four consecutive stalemates seeing them fall into the lower half of the standings.
Be that as it may, avoiding relegation in their debut Bundesliga campaign was undoubtedly the goal, and the fact that nine points separate Heidenheim from 16th-placed Koln and 12 from an automatic relegation place makes their 2023-24 season an ongoing success.
Team News
Leonardo Bittencourt is doubtful with illness, but the midfield man should be assessed before Saturday.
While Leon Opitz (ankle) and Milos Veljkovic (knee) are nearing returns, Amos Pieper could be out until April as he recovers from a broken ankle.
Elidon Qenaj (knee) and Thomas Keller (ACL) are unequivocally missing this weekend's game, while Denis Thomalla has a marginal chance of making the Heidenheim squad.
Having netted twice in the reverse fixture, including the game-winning third in the 4-2 win, Eren Dinkci will hope for the same on Saturday as the visitors seek to end their run of four consecutive draws.
Werder Bremen possible starting lineup:
Zetterer; Stark, Friedl, Jung; Lynen; Weiser, Schmid, Stage, Agu; Njinmah, Ducksch
Heidenheim possible starting lineup:
Muller; Traore, Mainka, Gimber, Fohrenbach; Maloney, Schoppner; Dinkci, Pieringer, Beste; Kleindienst
We say: Werder Bremen 1-1 Heidenheim
The spoils may be shared at Weserstadion on Saturday, with the visiting side eking out yet another 1-1 draw, the outcome in three of their last four stalemates.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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