Borussia Dortmund will be looking to bounce back from another Der Klassiker defeat to Bayern Munich by progressing past Hoffenheim in the DFB-Pokal quarter-finals.
Cup success is the only thing that could salvage a desperately disappointing season for Dortmund, while Hoffenheim's mid-table position in the Bundesliga means that they too can focus all of their energy on this competition.
Dortmund
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Glory in the DFB-Pokal is now Dortmund's only chance of achieving something at the end of a season which started with a promising 2-0 victory over Bayern in the German Super Cup.
It has all gone wrong from that moment for Jurgen Klopp's side, and a 1-0 reverse to the Bundesliga champions on Saturday put paid to any slim chance that they had of making a late assault on the Champions League places.
They had gone seven games unbeaten prior to that result to at least move clear of relegation trouble, but their campaign on the whole has been a disaster, with elimination from Europe's top club competition courtesy of a devastating 3-0 home defeat to Juventus last month another setback.
It was former striker Robert Lewandowski who again came back to haunt them with the winner at Westfalenstadion, and Dortmund's lack of Champions League football next season means that they risk more of their star players leaving in the summer.
Mats Hummels is being heavily touted with Manchester United, and several of Europe's top clubs are expected to be in for Marco Reus. The reputations of their star names remain intact despite their 2014-15 troubles.
These reputations were built on the back of the club's resurgence under Klopp, which started with a triumph in this competition four years ago. That squad is slowly being disassembled and, with more high-profile departures on the horizon, it would perhaps be fitting if they finished as they started.
Recent form (all competitions): WDDLWL
Hoffenheim
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Hoffenheim's rise through the divisions in Germany has been an incredible story, having gone from the fifth tier in 2000 to Bundesliga runners-up in 2008 with the financial backing of benefactor Dietmar Hopp.
Their progress has certainly stalled in recent seasons. A ninth-placed finish last term failed to match the increased expectations at the club, and they appear on course to achieve something similar this campaign.
They currently sit seventh in the table, 11 points adrift of the Champions League qualifying berths, with a run of only three wins in 10 games since the resumption of the season following the winter break to explain for their position.
Seeing the likes of Augsburg and Borussia Monchengladbach, by whom they were thrashed 4-1 on Saturday, above them in the standings will be a source of frustration, but the appetite for success at the club could be quenched by a first ever major trophy.
While they have collected plenty of regional silverware on their way up the ladder, Hoffenheim are yet to win one of Germany's more prestigious tournaments and they are only three wins away from changing that.
Recent form (all competitions): WWLWDL
Team News
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Klopp may have thought about rotating his squad had they been in the league position that he would have anticipated at this stage of the season, but expect him to name close to his strongest available side.
There could still be some changes to freshen up his team for their second big game in three days. Shinji Kagawa and Kevin Kampl could both be recalled in attacking-midfield roles, while Sebastian Kehl may return to anchor the midfield if Ilkay Gundogan is rested.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has beaten off competition from Adrian Ramos and Ciro Immobile to make the striking spot his own. Oliver Kirch, Nuri Sahin, Lukasz Piszczek and Kevin Grosskreutz remain absentees for the hosts.
Hoffenheim boss Markus Gisdol has a couple of injury concerns of his own, particularly in defence where Ermin Bicakcic and Niklas Sule are missing.
Despite the heavy defeat last time out, there are unlikely to be significant changes made to the visiting starting lineup. Sven Schipplock was hooked for Anthony Modeste in the second half against Gladbach and the French striker may get the nod from the start.
Kevin Volland, who has been linked with a move to Dortmund should Reus move on, represents Hoffenheim's best attacking threat.
Dortmund possible starting lineup:
Weidenfeller; Sokratis, Subotic, Hummels, Schmelzer; Kehl, Bender; Kagawa, Reus, Kampl; Aubameyang
Hoffenheim possible starting lineup:
Baumann; Beck, Strobl, Abraham, Kim; Elyounoussi, Rudy, Firmino, Zuber, Amiri, Volland; Modeste
Head To Head
These two teams have only met once previously in the German Cup - with Dortmund winning 3-1 at home in the 2007-08 campaign.
A repeat of that scoreline would not be a surprise considering that BVB have lost just once in eight home matches against Hoffenheim, and beat them 1-0 earlier in the season courtesy of Gundogan's solitary strike.
We say: Dortmund 2-0 Hoffenheim
Dortmund perhaps need this victory more than their opponents, and how they handle that pressure could dictate how the game goes. They have home advantage and the greater attacking threat, though, and are expected to reach the semi-finals.
Joe Fish
