FC Schalke 04 are hoping to gather the momentum needed for a tilt at a top-four finish when they travel to a buoyant SV Darmstadt 98 on Saturday afternoon (kick-off 15:30CET/14:30GMT).
Darmstadt have only won once at home all season.
However, the hosts can take heart from the fact Schalke have only earned one point from their last four away matches in the Bundesliga.
Lilies striker Sandro Wagner has been directly involved in four goals in the club’s last two league outings.
Darmstadt coach Dirk Schuster has only ever beaten Schalke once in 13 attempts during his Bundesliga career as a player and as a coach.
Schalke have only conceded one goal fewer than Darmstadt so far this season.
Possible line-ups


Darmstadt: Mathenia – Garics, Sulu, Rajkovic, Caldirola – Heller, Niemeyer, Gondorf, Rausch – Rosenthal – Wagner

Absentees: none

Schalke: Fährmann – Riether, Matip, Neustädter, Kolasinac – Geis, Goretzka – Sane, Höjbjerg, Choupo-Moting – Huntelaar

Absentees: Aogo (Achilles), Höwedes (thigh), Nastasic, Uchida (both light training)
The Royal Blues threw away the lead to lose 3-1 at home to SV Werder Bremen last weekend, but need to find their rhythm sooner rather than later if they are to push for one of the coveted UEFA Champions League qualifying places.

They will not have things all their own way, however, as promoted side Darmstadt are notoriously resilient at the back and dangerous going forward, as they showed with an impressive 2-1 victory away to Hannover 96 on Matchday 18.
Team News
Schalke 04
Sead Kolasinac and Rahman Baba both have a chance of starting on the left wing.
Max Meyer and Yevhen Konoplyanka compete for the spot in central attacking midfield.
With Klaas-Jan Huntelaar injured and Franco di Santo not fully fit yet, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting should start up front again.
Darmstadt
Florian Jungwirth could switch to the right-back position to replace the injured Immanuel Höhn.
Peter Niemeyer will most likely fill in for Jungwirth in central midfield in this case.
Up front, Antonio Colak and Sven Schipplock both have a chance of starting.
Prediction
Schalke are full of confidence after a 3-0 victory at Bremen last weekend. Their new 4-4-2 approach needs some time to become more fluid, but their individual quality, especially in midfield and attack, is immense.
Darmstadt kicked off their return to the Bundesliga with a 2-2 draw against Hannover at home. Their wingers have been in good form, but they are vulnerable at the back and need to work on their defensive organisation.
Expect Schalke to dominate this game from the outset and Darmstadt to wait for their chances on the break.