German Chancellor Angela Merkel will be the guest of honour at Energie Cottbus on Saturday, when the relegation-threatened club host Borussia Dortmund.

Merkel, who accepted a proposal to become an honorary member at Cottbus in November 2006, will be officially welcomed in a short on-pitch ceremony before the match, Cottbus said.

She will be especially satisfied if she sees them win Saturday's game. Her predecessor as Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, is an honorary member of Borussia Dortmund.

Hamburg are likely to be without playmaker Rafael van der Vaart for Sunday's game at home to Bochum, after the Dutchman suffered an ankle injury early in the club's UEFA Cup victory over FC Zurich on Thursday.

The consolation for coach Huub Stevens was to see Piotr Trochowski do so well in Van der Vaart's place, with the German turning in an outstanding performance to inspire a 3-1 win in the away leg.

Bayern Munich coach Ottmar Hitzfeld will be anxiously awaiting fitness reports on goalkeeper Oliver Kahn, centre-back Daniel van Buyten and midfielder Mark van Bommel ahead of Sunday's game away to Hanover.

Without the trio, Hitzfeld's team looked uncomfortable in defence in a 2-2 draw away to Aberdeen in the UEFA Cup on Thursday and if they all return, as expected, it will give the leaders an important boost.

Willy Sagnol, who was rested for the game, should return but fellow Frenchman Franck Ribery needs more time to get over his hamstring injury.

Werder Bremen, who are three points behind Bayern in second place, will be without first-team regulars Naldo and Tim Borowski (suspended) and Clemens Fritz and Torsten Frings (injuries) for Saturday's home clash with Nuremberg.

Still, Thomas Schaaf's side will be feeling pretty good after a 3-0 win at home to Braga in the UEFA Cup on Wednesday.

All eyes will be on the form of goalkeeper Tim Wiese. He saved two penalties against Braga and there are growing calls for him to get a call-up to the Germany squad.

Reuters