Germany coach Joachim Loew has said he will experiment for Friday's friendly here against Euro 2012 co-hosts Ukraine, while opposite number Oleg Blokhin insists his team face a tough test no matter what side the Germans start with.
The hosts have never beaten the Germans, with two defeats and two draws, and last met in Dortmund in November 2001 when the Germans ran out 4-1 winners in a 2002 World Cup qualifier play-off.
Kiev's Olympic Stadium has been renovated and is expected to be a 70,000 sell-out as the match is the first international since it re-opened last month.
Germany were the first country to book their Euro 2012 place through the qualifying rounds and Loew has said he could start with playmakers Mesut Ozil and Mario Goetze playing together for the first time.
"I want to keep my word when it comes to experimentation," said Loew.
"There will be some tinkering. Tentatively, however, the plan is that in Ukraine we may start with Goetze and Ozil.
"Ozil should play a little ahead of Goetze, because he can pull the strings up front."
Goetze orchestrated Germany's 3-2 friendly win over Brazil in Stuttgart last August and Loew said the 19-year-old is mature beyond his years.
"He is very quick to learn and implements what the coach asks of him," said Loew.
"That is his great strength."
Loew's latitude to experiment has been helped because star midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger is out with a broken collarbone.
"I always regret it when a player is injured, Schweinsteiger is a leader and his game has developed dramatically in the last few years," said Loew.
"But this is also an opportunity to look at other players.
"I am not going to complain about it, we have enough quality in the squad."
Moenchengladbach midfielder Marco Reus and Lazio striker Miroslav Klose are also out out, but are expected to join the squad on Saturday before Tuesday's friendly with the Netherlands in Hamburg.
First-choice striker Mario Gomez sat out training on Wednesday, but is expected to play.
Blokhin has said he will use the game to gauge how ready his injury-hit team is, and added a lot will depend on how mentally prepared they are.
Injuries and illness have deprived him of ten players including Dynamo Moscow veteran Andriy Voronin, and former Chelsea and AC Milan striker Andriy Shevchenko, who now plays for Dynamo Kiev.
"I have already told my guys - if we do not prepare against Germany in terms of mentality, it will be very tough no matter what we do on the pitch," said Blokhin.
"Above all, we have to believe we are capable of achieving positive results against opponents of this level.
"If we give up before hand, it does not make sense to step onto the field.
"Besides, we should be mindful this will be the inaugural match on the renovated Olympic Stadium, a 70,000 sold-out venue.
"This factor will also influence my charges in terms of psychology, we have to prepare well."
Source: AFP
