Schalke host Basel in the Champions League on Wednesday evening in a clash they must win in order to progress in the competition.
The hosts have collected seven points from their five games so far and lie third in the group, while their Swiss guests are just one point and place ahead with eight. Both clubs still have a chance of topping the group, but must win and hope that Group E leaders Chelsea slip up to rock-bottom Steaua Bucharest.
Neither side comes into the game on the back of a victory; Schalke fell to a 2-1 defeat to Borussia Mönchengladbach while Basel played out a draw with Grasshopper.
The hosts also have a number of absentees: Jermaine Jones is serving a one-match suspension, while Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Dennis Aogo and Marco Höger all face lengthy spells on the sidelines with knee injuries.
Meanwhile, Basel have Marcelo Díaz ruled out for the rest of the year with a broken rib, while Behrang Safari is doubtful with a thigh injury.
Schalke coach Jens Keller warned his men against playing too offensively: "There are 90 minutes to go, 90 minutes to score – it wouldn't be clever to play all-out attack from the beginning.
"We have made a lot of comebacks this season and now we need another. We need a result and three points.
"We have already demonstrated that we're able to beat them.
"In Basel we played well and we want more of the same tomorrow.
"We concentrate on our game rather than focusing too much on how Basel played against other teams."
Meanwhile, Basel coach Murat Yakin was pleased with how far his team has come: "We have a team who like to play attacking football.
"Our players want to win matches and have some fun.
Matches in the Champions League underline our development.
After our victory at Chelsea we had games at home to Schalke and Steaua and recognised that they were geared to stopping us.
But in front of their own fans I cannot imagine that Schalke will hide and play defensively."