German champions Bayern Munich face an injury crisis as they seek to jolt themselves out of a run of poor league form when they face in-form Hansa Rostock on Sal unlay.

Bayern coach Ottmar Hhzfeld has suffered the curse of the Iricndlv international, with Jens Jeremies and Mehmet Scholl both reluming injured from Germany s 1-0 defeat against I rance in Paris.

Jeremies is struggling to shake oila sme right knee and Scholl has a thigh Mtain.

"It would be a blow il both were out.” Hitzfvld said. Jens is our defensive chicl and Mehmet is obviously an essential element.

Swiss international Ciriaco Sforza. Germany's Alexander Zickler. Brazil's Roque Santa Cruz and Slawomir Wojciechowski ol Poland will also miss the irip to ihe former East Germany.

Bayern are jusl two points clear at the top after last weekend's 1-1 home draw with Cologne, while Rostock have beaten Kaiserslautern* and Bayer Leverkusen in (heir Iasi (wo matches to climb out ol

relegation trouble.

On a more positive noli- for Bayern, the club's vice-president Karl-Heinz Rummenigge is keen to see international goalkeeper Oliver Kahn finish his career al the club he joined from Karlsruhe in 1994.

"We need Olli for a lot longer,” former German star striker Rummenigge told Kicker magazine. Oliver Kahn should see out his career with us."

The 31-year-old keeper s contract expires on June 30, 2003. and lie has said he wants io play at least until the 2006 World Cup. which is being held in Germany.

Ihe team breathing down Bayern’s well-tailored collar are ihe less fashionable Schalke 04. who could have drawn level with Bayern last weekend but instead also dropped two points by drawing 0-0 in the Ruhr derby with Borussia Dortmund.

Schalke will be hoping to collect all (hree points on Sunday as they lake on SV Hamburg, a team with high hopes al the start of the season who have faded lo 13th in the table.

. Third-placed Dortmund, now equal on points with Schalke. plax Eintracht Frankfurt in the first game of the 'weekend' on Friday, while Leverkusen lock horns with

I860 Munich.

Eighth-placed Werder Bremen and their South American duo -Brazilian striker Aihon and his Peruvian strike partner Claudio Pizarro, who scored the goals in their 2-1 win against Frankfurt last weekend - face fifth-placed Freiburg.

Henha Berlin captain Michael Preetz is doubtful for his side’s clash with Cologne. Preetz is unable to turn at ihe waist and will have tests on his back on Friday.

Kaiserslautern. in seventh place, will be wary on Saturday against Energie Cottbus, who are threatened by relegation but did their cause a world of good by healing Leverkusen 3-1 last weekend.

FIXTURES

Friday (1915 GMT): Borussia Dortmund v Eintracht Frankfurt

Saturday (1430 GMT unless stated): Hansa Rostock v Bayern Munich. Energie Cottbus v Kaiserslautern. Werder Bremen v Freiburg. \ IB Stuttgart v VIL Wolfsburg Unfrrhacbiiig v VfL Bochum. Cologne x Hertha Berlin (1915 GM I)

Sunday (1630 GMT): I860 Munich \ Bayer Leverkusen. Schalke 01 \ S\ I iamburg