Both teams head into the opening day of the season on the back of comfortable wins over lower league opposition in the DFB Pokal last weekend.
Each faced fourth tier opponents, with Hannover 96 disposing of Hessen Kassel of the Regionalliga Südwest (2-0) and Darmstadt making short work of TuS Erndtebrück of the Regionalliga West (5-0).
But for the newly promoted minnows from just south of Frankfurt, the serious business of avoiding relegation from the Bundesliga starts tomorrow. The “Lillies” of Darmstadt are making only their third ever appearance in the Bundesliga, having achieved promotion for the first time since 1981-82 season.
A small budget used wisely
By some distance the smallest club in the league with the most limited budget, Darmstadt have nevertheless been able to make some astute additions to the squad over the summer.
Striker Jan Rosenthal, 29, has joined from Eintracht Frankfurt and midfielder Mario Vrancic joins from SC Paderborn, having scored twice in 23 starts last season.
Experienced left-back Konstantin Rausch has arrived from VfB Stuttgart to further bolster a Darmstadt defence which conceded 26 times in 34 games last season in the second division. Rausch's top-flight experience will be vital if Darmstadt are to stay up.
No major changes are expected to the line-up which thrashed Erndtebrück, although Rosenthal could replace Sailer up front.
Hannover post-Stindl
Hannover enjoyed a less successful season last time around, chopping and changing managers throughout the second half of the campaign. Michael Frontzeck finally managed to steer the Reds away from relegation, eventually finishing in 13th.
Having lost top scorer Lars Stindl to Borussia Mönchengladbach, the Hanoverians will be expecting Kenan Karaman to step up to the plate. The striker has already opened his account for the season with a goal in the cup last weekend.
The young Frenchman Allan Saint-Maxim, 18, also impressed when he came on a substitute in Kassel, and could also be in with a chance of making the starting eleven.