Bayern Munich could move 10 points clear in the Bundesliga and get closer to what coach Ottmar Hitzfeld says is their "most important title".With Werder Bremen slipping up at Stuttgart last weekend, Bayern have opened up a seven-point lead at the top of the table.

Victory over bottom-placed Energie Cottbus on Saturday would allow Hitzfeld's side to take another big step towards winning the Bundesliga for the 21st time.

And Hitzfeld, who will leave in the summer to make way for Jurgen Klinsmann, has set his sights firmly on the domestic title.

"You win the Bundesliga after 34 rounds of hard work, so it is the most important title," he said.

Bayern are on course for a historic quadruple after netting the Premiere Ligapokal - the German League Cup - last August.

A 6-2 aggregate win over Anderlecht has put them into the last eight of the UEFA Cup while they face Wolfsburg in the semi-finals of the DFB-Pokal next Wednesday and their seemingly unstoppable march to glory is leaving the rest of the Bundesliga with alternative aims.

Five clubs are scrambling for two places in the Champions League with Bremen's recent stumble allowing Hamburg, Bayer Leverkusen, Schalke and even Stuttgart to move back into contention for a top-three finish.

Stuttgart have won four games in a row and will be confident of making it five when they travel to Bochum on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Hamburg and Leverkusen, who met in a dramatic UEFA Cup tie on Wednesday, both have the chance to move into second place.

Hamburg, who were knocked out by their Bundesliga rivals despite a 3-2 win, entertain Borussia Dortmund on Saturday while Leverkusen are at home to struggling Nurnberg on Sunday.

Schalke, Germany's only remaining representatives in the Champions League take to the field only hours after learning who they will face in the last eight. They face Duisburg on Friday night.

While it seems those five teams will dispute the places in the Champions League and the UEFA Cup, four further clubs are still lurking in the wings, starting with the Bundesliga's surprise package Karlsruhe.

They entertain Frankfurt on Saturday knowing a win could move them as high as fifth while their opponents also need three points to draw level in 36 points and maintain their own outside hopes of qualifying for Europe.

Wolfsburg, who travel to Bremen on Sunday, may have their minds on other things this weekend.

Next week, they face Bayern Munich for a place in the DFB-Pokal final, which provides Felix Magath's side with the shortest route into the UEFA Cup.

Meanwhile, Hannover have not yet given up their hopes of finishing inside the top six, despite their indifferent form of late.

They entertain Arminia Bielefeld, who have yet to win a single game in 2008, on Saturday with Hansa Rostock at home to Hertha Berlin.

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