Euro 2012 co-hosts Poland will be looking for their maiden win over Germany on Tuesday at the 17th time of trying when the neighbours square off in a friendly in Gdansk.
Along with co-hosts the Ukraine, Poland are already assured of their place at next June's Euro 2012 tournament while Germany were the first team to qualify for their berth with a 6-2 hammering of Austria on Friday.
With 12 defeats and four draws against Germany, Poland are chasing a first win over their neighbours and they warmed up with a 1-1 draw with Mexico last Friday.
Poland scored first in Warsaw as striker Pawel Brozek fired under the crossbar from close range after 27 minutes, but the lead lasted just seven minutes as Manchester United's Javier Hernandez netted for Mexico.
The hosts bid to poach a win over Germany has been helped by the news visiting coach Joachim Loew has left out first-choice players Bastian Schweinsteiger, Mesut Ozil and Manuel Neuer for the trip.
Arsenal's new signing Per Mertesacker will start for Germany in defence as will Werder Bremen goalkeeper Tim Wiese and Dortmund's teenage star Mario Goetze.
The 19-year-old Goetze came off the bench to score Germany's final goal against Austria, and is a name to watch having orchestrated the 3-2 win over South American giants Brazil at the start of August.
Both of Germany's Polish-born forwards Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski are playing their first international in Poland.
Lazio striker Klose scored the opening goal against Austria and with 62 goals to his name, he is closing in on Germany's all-time record of 68 goals in 62 games set by 1970s legend Gerd Mueller.
"We want to put in a good performance," said Klose having played Poland twice before in group stage games at the 2006 World Cup and Euro 2008.
"I am very excited, it's a special game for me and a special trip.
"It will be very emotional."
Gdansk is one of four Polish cities which will host Euro 2012 matches and Marcin Herra, who heads the Polish organising committee, has said the friendly will give a clear idea of how ready his country is to host the tournament.
The match will not only test the national Poland team on the pitch, but the city's infrastructure, in terms of roads and airport, will also be under scrutiny as a rehearsal for the finals which start on June 8 next year.
The game is expected to be a 40,000 sell-out, but a heavy police presence is expected to ensure the game passes off without trouble.
Source: AFP
