Darmstadt are preparing for their biggest trip in over three decades this weekend, and they intend to make the most of their visit to Bayern Munich.
When the fixture list was produced last summer, the trip to the Allianz Arena was the one most of the Bundesliga club's fans would have been putting a ring around.
After following their team to Aue and Aalen, the opportunity to witness their side in front of 70,000 spectators in one of Germany's largest footballing temples was one they did not want to miss, and their coach Dirk Schuster has promised to put on a show.
"We're going to send 11 players out there who can compete," he said at a press conference. "We're going to make things as hard as possible for Bayern."
Saturday's clash will actually be Darmstadt's second trip to the Allianz Arena this season, having lost only 1-0 on their previous visit in a DFB-Pokal Cup tie before Christmas.
This time it is arguably more important, though, with points up for grabs which Darmstadt need to help them avoid relegation straight back down into the second tier.
"We gave them something to think about in that cup tie and now we want to latch onto it," said Schuster, whose side are four points clear of relegation trouble.
"For my players, this is an opportunity to show they are worthy of a place in the Bundesliga."
Bayern, on the other hand, could extend their lead at the top of the standings to 11 points before second-placed Borussia Dortmund travel to third-placed Bayer Leverkusen in Sunday's big match.
Elsewhere this weekend, Borussia Monchengladbach host Cologne in a local derby which has a European feel to it, with both clubs still in the hunt for a place in the Europa League, if not more next season.
Hertha Berlin host Wolfsburg which sees two teams aiming for Champions League football next season, although the focus of Saturday's other fixtures is on the bottom of the standings.
Hoffenheim host Mainz while Werder Bremen, who are in the relegation play-off berth, head to Ingolstadt.
On Sunday, Schalke host in-form Stuttgart, who are pushing their way back into the frame for a place in Europe next term despite being bottom of the Bundesliga in December.
That is where Hannover are right now and they will seek to bring an end to a seven-game losing streak in the league when they host Augsburg in the weekend's final fixture.
Source: PA
