'Have to be right on top of our game'

Before that, Bayer 04 are focused on the match against surprise package from Hannover. From the start of the season, the team from Lower Saxony have impressed on their immediate return to the Bundesliga and at one stage were  third in the table. After 16 games, Hannover 96 are now tenth in the table on 22 points. The team coached by André Breitenreiter have picked up 14 points at home at the HDI Arena. it was no surprise the Leverkusen head coach showed great respect for the forthcoming opponents at the pre-match press conference. "I don't think they'll be worried about playing us at home on Sunday," said the 46-year-old and drew attention to Hanover's 2-0 win against TSG Hoffenheim in their last home match. Herrlich also mentioned the wins against Schalke 04 (1-0) and Borussia Dortmund (4-2). "They've already shown they can beat teams above them. And that's why they won't be afraid of us."

Herrlich impressed by Hannover

The Werkself coach is particularly impressed by the way Hannover play: "I saw Hannover in the league match at Mönchengladbach. I was incredibly impressed by the way the  newly promoted team played forward from the goalkeeper. The last time I saw that was Bayern Munich under Pep Guardiola." Back then on matchday seven, the Reds narrowly lost 2-1 to Gladbach – with the winner coming from a penalty in added time. "Hannover should actually have won that game," said Herrlich before adding: "Then they would have three more points than the current 22." The boss sounding a warning to his players: "Ten of their 20 goals have been scored from set pieces. We've defended those really well in recent games and we'll have to be on our toes again this time."

His team will have to play to their full potential at Hannover. "Of course, we want to go there and pick up three points," said Herrlich. He believes it's important for his team to "be right on top of their game."

game too soon for Aránguiz 

The fact the Werkself have climbed up to fourth place after a run of eleven Bundesliga games without defeat is just a snapshot for Herrlich. The man from Mannheim is keen to block out external praise: "We're on the right path. But there are enough areas to find criticism. In the Bremen game our conversion rate in front of goal was not ideal and that meant we had to focus right to the end." That is not supposed to happen at Hannover and the successful run should also carry on. A look at the statistics is encouraging: The Werkself have not lost any of the last seven games against Hannover 96 (six wins, one draw). 

Heiko Herrlich almost has a full squad to choose from on Sunday. In addition to the suspended Wendell and the injured Vladlen Yurchenko, he is also unable to call on Charles Aránguiz. The Chile international has returned to training after his muscle injury but the game against Hannover comes too soon for him to play. "We're taking it day by day. He may be fit by Wednesday but he is definitely ruled out of the Hannover game," explained Herrlich.

Bayer 04 will have the support of 950 fans at the HDI Arena on Sunday.