Hamburg will want to keep their title hopes alive as they take on Hoffenheim, who are just one point below them, at HSH Nordbank Arena tomorrow.
The hosts are boosted by the return of Croatia international Mladen Petric, who has shrugged off a thigh problem.
Marcell Jansen is expected to shake off a flu bug, but Alex Silva (thigh), Jerome Boateng (flu), Bastian Reinhardt (foot), Thimothee Atouba (Achilles), Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Romeo Castelen (both knee) remain sidelined.
Guy Demel will undergo a late fitness test on a thigh strain.
After dropping five points behind the leaders, fifth-placed Hoffenheim will look to end a five-game winless run.
And their chances of doing just that have improved considerably, now that the attacking trio Sejad Salihovic, Chinedu Obasi and Demba Ba are available.
The visitors will be without Andreas Ibertsberger, Vedad Ibisevic due to injury while Luiz Gustavo is suspended.
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