Visitors Heidenheim could be condemned to a bottom-three finish in the Bundesliga if they fail to beat Stuttgart at MHPArena on Friday.
Stuttgart ended last weekend in 11th place with 41 points after they drew 4-4 with Union Berlin on Saturday, while the away side are third last in the league's 16th-placed relegation playoff spot with 22 points following their 4-0 defeat against Bayern Munich on April 19.
Match preview
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The hosts' clash against Union was dramatic considering each side scored four goals before the half-time interval, with Stuttgart only producing 0.54 xG in the first 45 minutes.
Die Roten continued their rich vein of goalscoring form and have found the back of the net on 12 occasions in their last four matches, as many as they managed in their previous nine outings.
Head coach Sebastian Hoeness oversaw a 3-1 victory when his team faced Heidenheim in the Bundesliga on December 15, and they have netted 11 times in their five most recent encounters with the visitors.
Stuttgart have won two, drawn one and lost one of their past four games, but they failed to win any of their prior six, succumbing to defeat four times.
Hoeness's side have been poor at home for some time having been beaten in six of their last eight fixtures at MHPArena.
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Opponents Heidenheim conceded three first-half goals against Bayern Munich and produced just two shots from open play, with only one of those attempts coming from inside the penalty area.
While few would have predicted that the visitors would take points from league-leaders Bayern, it is still concerning that they have not scored for three consecutive matches, a period in which they conceded eight goals.
Frank Schmidt's side are eight points behind 15th-placed Hoffenheim and 14th-placed St Pauli, and both would be out of reach if they win on the weekend and Heidenheim drop points to Stuttgart.
The away side come into Friday's clash having lost three in a row and have in fact only won three of their previous 23 while losing 15.
It should be noted that the visitors have been considerably more resilient on the road given they have only suffered one defeat in their last five away from home, drawing two and winning two in that time.
Team News
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Stuttgart will be without defenders Josha Vagnoman and Dan-Axel Zagadou, but Leonidas Stergiou, Finn Jeltsch, Julian Chabot and Maximilian Mittelstadt are available to start.
Atakan Karazor and Angelo Stiller featured in a double pivot last time out and can be expected to retain their places in the XI.
Striker Nick Woltemade has returned following a suspension, but forwards El Bilal Toure, Jamie Leweling and Justin Diehl are all injured and will play no part.
As for Heidenheim, attackers Budu Zivzivadze and Mathias Honsak are not scheduled to return until early May.
Perhaps Sirlord Conteh and Marvin Pieringer could be fielded together in a front two considering they partnered each other against Bayern.
Midfielders Jan Schoppner, Adrian Beck and Niklas Dorsch may be tasked with protecting a back three of Benedikt Gimber, Patrick Mainka and Tim Siersleben.
Stuttgart possible starting lineup:
Nubel; Stergiou, Jeltsch, Chabot, Mittelstadt; Millot, Karazor, Stiller, Fuhrich; Woltemade, Demirovic
Heidenheim possible starting lineup:
Muller; Mainka, Gimber, Siersleben; Traore, Dorsch, Schoppner, Beck, Kratzig; Conteh, Pieringer
We say: Stuttgart 3-1 Heidenheim
Although Stuttgart have been poor at MHPArena, their opponents have struggled significantly at both ends of the pitch.
The hosts could take advantage of the visitors' defensive vulnerability, though having conceded four in their most recent match, Stuttgart may fail to keep a clean sheet on Friday.
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Lewis Nolan
