Bayer Leverkusen will travel a little over eighty kilometers to their Nord-Rhein Westphalian counterparts Borussia Dortmund, eager to show their neighbours on Saturday evening who are Bayern's nearest title challengers. Not only is the game a derby, it'll pit second against third in the Bundesliga, in a game that neither team can afford to lose. BVB head into the game seven points behind Bayern and a three behind Leverkusen, so a win is vital for them to keep pace. They head into the match in good form, after losing three in a row they're turned it around to win three on the bounce and will be boyed by star striker Robert Lewandowski getting back to scoring ways against Mainz, despite his brace being a pair of penalties. 'Die Borussen' will also be happy to see Marco Reus running again, however he still remains doutbful, while Sven Bender and Nuri Sahin could and should return to action. Another massive boost for Dortmund is that Lukasz Piszczek is back and playing well, after getting a good game against Mainz under his belt, he'll want to keep his place after Kevin Großkreutz filled in so well. Now, no pre-match preview of Borussia Dortmund's would be complete without a few comments from the enigmatic Jürgen Klopp: 

Marco Reus, however, remains doubtful. Klopp revealed that the midfielder had a scan on his calf this week. Even though the scan showed “something”, for the BVB coach it’s more important to know how a player feels. ”And Marco says he feels fine.” A decision on whether he is fit enough to face Leverkusen will be left until Saturday. “We are not going take any risks,” said Klopp, adding that his players under normal circumstances need to train at least once, “ideally twice” with the team before being considered for selection again. However, due to the current injury crisis, things could be handled differently this time. “Sometimes it is enough when a player shows up at breakfast…”

If all goes well, Reus could be used in a “super sub” role against Leverkusen in what Klopp expects to be an intense game. “We have big ambitions and are not going to give any further points away.” The Dortmund coach also said that they will be treating the final four games of the year as finals. “And we would like to win all four.”

Bayer Leverkusen also head into the game fresh from wins in the league and Pokal, with a three-nil win against Nürnberg and a two-one victory over Freiburg respectively, Sami Hyypiä's men are brimming with confidence. South Korean Heung Min Son hit a brace last time out in the forementioned victory in the league, and up against the team that seemed most likely to sign him first, he'll be more than up for it come Saturday. Leverkusen's prized acquisition this Summer has taken to a duck like water since his move, and will be intent on adding to his impressive first half of the season. 'Die Werkself' have no fresh injury concerns ahead of the game, but reports from 'kicker' suggest that injured star Sidney Sam will be moving on at the end of the season to Schalke for a measly €2.5 million, a steal if you ask anyone who's watched him this season. While a massively blow for Leverkusen, Jens Hegeler has done well in his abscence, as has Gonzalo Castro and Robbie Kruse, newly crowned Australian football of the Year, they have no worries in squad depth terms. Hyppiä had this to say before the biggest game of matchday 14:

"It is a duel that every footballer can enjoy. Dortmund has a strong team and a good coach. The atmosphere will be fantastic, and we will do all that after the game, the mood in our team will be just as good. If each player is playing at their best and we stick together as a team, we will take something at BVB. But one thing is clear: without faith in their own strength, you have to back Dortmund. I am convinced of our troops and I am sure that we will see an exciting game on Saturday "

The game should be an excellent advert for the Bundesliga, with Leverkusen the top scorers (17) and Dortmund have hit the back of the net more times than any team in the second half with twenty-three goals. While the match may promise goals, the stats points heavily towards the home side coming out on top, BVB have picked up thirteen out of a possible fifteen points against Leverkusen, they are also without a win in their last seven away games on a Saturday evening. Finally, in the battle of the Bender brothers, Sven has came out on top recently, with the Dortmund man being unbeaten in his last five games against Lars.

Predicted line-ups:

Borussia Dortmund: Weidenfeller; Piszczek, Friedrich, Sokratis, Durm; Sven Bender, Sahin; Blaszczykowski, Reus, Aubameyang; Lewandowski.

Bayer Leverkusen: Leno; Donati, Spahic, Toprak, Can; Rolfes, Lars bender, Reinartz; Castro, Keißling, Son.

Quotes from Dortmund and Leverkusen's respective websites.