Two in-form teams will be up against each other when Schalke and Mainz square off at Veltins Arena on Friday evening.

Given that both sides are looking to stay on course to European qualification, we should see a great game of football in Gelsenkirchen.

With quite a few important players missing the big chunk of the first part of the season, Schalke did pretty well to keep their top 4 hopes alive while also qualifying for the Champions League knockout stages.

And while the Miners face an uphill task in the Last 16 stage against mighty Real Madrid, they look set to ensure another Champions League qualification through league finish.

With star striker Klaas Jan Huntelaar returning into action, Schalke have been absolutely brilliant at the start of the New Year, winning four straight fixtures to create a four-point cushion in fourth place in the standings.

The Miners go into the Mainz game buoyed by the away triumph over Bayer Leverkusen, and they look a good bet at 1.70 (7/10).

Klaas Jan Huntelaar proved his worth for the team by scoring the winner at Bay Arena, and he is 1.94 (47/50) to net against Mainz as well.

Benedikt Howedes and Julian Draxler are set to return to the starting line-up, but Dennis Aogo, Ian Kirchhoff, Atsuto Uchida, Marco Hoger and Christian Clemens are out injured.

Probable starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Fahrmann – Howedes, Matip, Santana, Kolasinac – Neustadter, Boateng – Farfan, Meyer, Draxler – Huntelaar.

Mainz are another side that have been in stunning form since the winter break, with Thomas Tuchel’s side making the most of somewhat easy fixture list.

While they were soundly beaten by top 6 rivals Wolfsburg, the Carnival club defeated Stuttgart, Freiburg and Hannover to climb to seventh in the league standings.

And with the team now sitting just one point behind European positions, they will have an extra motivation to do well at Veltins Arena.

Mainz were beaten by Schalke at home in a reverse fixture, but their 4-1-5 away record can give them reason for optimism.

And with Thomas Tuchel’s charges scoring in 10 of 11 away matches this term, both teams to score bet should be considered at 1.67 (2/3).

Christoph Moritz will be recalled to the starting line-up, but Joo-Ho Park is doubtful with a thigh strain, with Benedikt Saller ready to step in if needed.

Probable starting line-up (4-1-2-1-2): Karius – Pospech, Bell, Noveski, Diaz – Geis – Moritz, Park – Koo – Muller, Okazaki.