New Hamburg coach Huub Stevens will be looking to build on his side's return to form as they continue their battle

against the team's first relegation in Bundesliga history against leaders Schalke 04.

The Dutchman, who took over four weeks ago with the mission of saving the club from the drop, takes his team to Schalke on Friday, a side he knows well having coached there from 19962002, leading them to the UEFA Cup in 1997 and the German Cup in 2001 and 2002.

The trip to the Arenaaufschalke will surely bring back memories for Stevens of May 19, 2001 when Schalke were German champions for four minutes before Bayern Munich equalised 1-1 against Hamburg to grab the Bundesliga title.

Stevens has shown he is on the right track with his new charges with three consecutive wins largely thanks to four goals by Rafael van der Vaart.

But he warned against complacency as Hamburg sit 13th with just a single point separating them from Arminia Bielefeld, in the first relegation spot.

"Nothing is assured yet, we still have 11 finals to play," said Stevens.

Leaders Schalke, who have a

four-point advantage on VfB Stuttgart, will be looking to put their first home defeat Sunday to Bayer Leverkusen behind them, and put themselves back on the path to their first national title since 1958.

"We're not afraid of losing our place, we still have a four-point cushion," said Schalke coach Mirko Slomka.

Slomka will, however, be without Brazilian midfielder Lincoln, who is sitting out a five-match suspension for violence during last weekend's game, along with Peter Lovenkrands, Gustavo Varela, Christian Pander and Gerald Asamoah, with Mladen Krstajic also uncertain as he recovers from a broken rib.

Bayer Leverkusen, sitting eighth, look to continue their giant-killing exploits, this time at home against second-placed VfB Stuttgart, who qualified for the German Cup semi-finals midweek.

Leverkusen are on a five-

FIXTURES

(1430GMT kick-off unless stated) Saturday

Hertha Berlin v Bayern Munich, Arminia Bielefeld v Nuremberg, Bayer Leverkusen v VfB Stuttgart, VfL Wolfsburg v Monchengladbach, Eintracht Frankfurt v Hanover, Werder Bremen v VfL Bochum

Sunday

Alemannia Aachen v Mainz 05 (1600), Borussia Dortmund v Energie Cottbus (1600)

match winning streak and have only lost one of their past ten matches.

And Stuttgart for their part have proven to be very dependent on top Bundesliga scorer Mario Gomez since the return from the winter break.

Werder Bremen, in third two points behind Stuttgart, host VfL Bochum, sitting 15th, whom they thrasted 6-0 in their last meeting.

Werder have lost the momentum since picking up the honorific title of Winter Champions. Since the return, the 2004 champions have won just two of their five matches, losing twice at their Weserstadion.

Bochum however have never recorded a win at Werder Bremen.

Elsewhere fourth-placed Bayern Munich, three points behind Werder Bremen, travel to sixth-placed Hertha Berlin, before hosting Spaniards Real Madrid Wednesday for their Champions League last 16, second leg match.

Bayern have not lost at the Olympic Stadium since December 2001.

"We have a great chance to take a new step in the right direction, we have to grab this opportunity," said Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld.