BERLIN. Nov 10: As Hertha Berlin retain a slim two-point grip on the league. Schalke 04. who showed

good form at the start of the season, host the match of the weekend against German champions Bayern Munich, reports AFP.

Bayern are the only German team still Involved in the Champions League, a fact they will attempt to hammer home on their visit to Gelsenkirchen this Saturday.

They finished top of their Champions League -Group F. and despite recent elimination from the second round of the German Cup by lowly Magdeburg. they returned to league form last Saturday with a 6-2 thrashing of Borussia Dortmund.

Schalke, who were beaten by an 87th-minute goal against third-placed Kaiserslautern last" weekend, certainly have their hacks against the wall, with only lour points from their last five league matches.

The excitement is not all

concentrated in central Germany. however.

Hertha Berlin, who many look upon as caretaker leader's of the Bundesliga, two points ahead of Bayern, take the road west Friday night to Borussia Dortmund, currently sitting in 8th position on 16 points.

After last week's lesson in football from Bayern. Dortmund are looking to restore some pride, an excercise which seems all the more likely given that Hertha Berlin have never regis-lered \dctory there in their last seven outings.

Currently sitting third. Kaiserslautern head to Frank-lurt. sitting ninth, on Sunday with designs on extending their stay at the top as challengers to Berlin and Bayern.

Bayer Leverkusen, meanwhile, who still hold on io fourth plan' despite the < lub being rocked by the recent Christophe Daum cocaine scandal, head to 13th-placed Frlburg for what should prove a good opportunity to further their league cause.

Confirmation on Thursday

that current coach. ex-intemational Rudi Voller. will hand over the coaching reigns to former national coach Berti \ ogts. should not prove a brake to Leverkusen's league aspira-

After accepting his appointment as national caoch until the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan. Voller will remain the sports director at Leverkusen.

'The solution (to the change of team coaches) is absolutely perfect and 1 hope to have the same success as I've had before."

Vogts, who takes up liis post on Monday after a two-vear coaching break from the game, said:

I'm delighted at having the opportunity to work again after a two year break. We are going to continue in the direction that was set down by Christoph Daum and Rudi Voller."

Finally, sixth-placed Hamburg attempt to recover morale from their Champions League exit as they travel to Cologne, sitting some way down the (able in 14th place.