Werkself moving forward

Following the strong showing in the DFB Pokal against Energie Cottbus on Wednesday, the open the second half of the season with a short drive north to Dortmund. Bruno Labbadia is optimistic moving forward but knows that BVB is lurking only three points behind and are one of the best defending units in the league. Evaluating their loss to Werder in the Pokal he said:

"Dortmund played at a high tempo and they play in a particular way. As in the Cottbus game, it will be important to find the gaps as we obviously want to bring back three points from Dortmund."

Of Lukas Sinkiewicz who will start in favour of Henrique, he said:

"It was important for Lukas to play in a competitive game after such a long lay-off. He put in an excellent performance."

BVB's Jürgen Klopp will be without two of their best attacking players; Polish international Jakub Blaszczykowksi and playmaker Tamás Hajnal although Mohamed Zidan is starting to assert himself in the Black and Yellow. The are also without Sebastian Kehl, Mats Hummels and long term absence Dedê.

Bruno Labbadia is unlikely to make any notable changes to the lineup that served Werkself so well in the Pokal. With only Vratislav Gresko and Bernd Schneider out, Patrick Helmes and Stefan Kießling will pair in the hunt for goals with Renato Augusto, Arturo Vidal and Tranquillo Barnetta going forward.