Top 4 rivals just few years back have largely struggled in recent years, meaning that both Schalke and Bayer Leverkusen will see this game as an opportunity to show they can still mix it up with the best of them.

Schalke again find themselves in problems after losing last two league fixtures, as their bright start to the new season was clearly short-lived.

While losing to Hannover on the road, the Miners did well to defeat RB Leipzig, Stuttgart and Werder Bremen in first four games of the season, but then fell victim to a difficult fixture list.

Schalke were first beaten at home by mighty Bayern Munich before losing the away fixture against in-form Hoffenheim, so this is a good opportunity to return to winning ways.

The Miners impressed to defeat Bayer Leverkusen on the road last term, but their also lost last there meetings at home with die Werkself.

Head coach Domenico Tedesco has some selection problems as Coke, Alessandro Schopf and Pablo Insua are all sidelined through injury.

Probable starting line-up (3-4-2-1): Fahrmann – Kehrer, Naldo, Nastasic – Caligiuri, McKennie, Stambouli, Oczipka – Goretzka, Harit – Burgstaller.

Just like their next opponents, Bayer Leverkusen have been on a downtrend of late, finishing the previous campaign mere four points above the bottom three.

Die Werkself have failed to show improvement in the new season, and they sit in the bottom half of the standings after taking 7 points from opening 6 games.

Home wins over Freiburg and Hamburg did help improve the dressing room atmosphere, but it is important to note Bayer Leverkusen have yet to bring the first points from the road.

But, having won last three matches at Veltins Arena, they might be some value in odds of 2.80 (9/5) offered on away win.

Captain Lars Bender could be back in contention after recovering from injury, but Tin Jedvaj remains in the infirmary.

After making a host of changes for the Hamburg clash, head coach Heiko Herrlich faces a genuine selection headache ahead of the trip to Veltins Arena.

Probable starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Leno – Henrichs, Tah, S. Bender, Wendell – Baumgartlinger, Aranguiz – Mehmedi, Volland, Bellarabi – Alario.