Bayern Munich boss Jupp Heynckes looks set to be forced into one change from the team that thrashed Stuttgart 6-1 a fortnight ago, with Xherdan Shaqiri coming back in for Arjen Robben, who sustained a thigh injury in the course of his absence on international duty with Netherlands.
Elsewhere, €40 million signing Javi Martinez will be kept on the bench by Luiz Gustavo, who will continue in the deep-lying midfield positions next to Bastian Schweinsteiger, who is fit to start despite missing Germany’s recent World Cup qualifiers against Faroe Islands and Austria.
Mario Mandzukic will continue up front in the place of Mario Gomez, who is recovering from ankle surgery, full-backs Diego Contento, David Alaba and Rafinha remain sidelined, meaning that Philipp Lahm will play on the right-hand side of defence, with Holger Badstruber shifted out to left-back.
Meanwhile, Thomas Tuchel is expected to name one change from the starting line-up that lost 1-0 to Greuther Furth two weeks ago, with Radoslav Zabavnik coming in for Niko Bungert. Elsewhere, they should be unchanged.
Eugen Polanski remains with a knee problem, while Ivan Klasnic and Heinz Muller are both unvailable due to sprained ankles.
- Roten midfielder Thomas Muller (pictured, right) will be playing this game two days after turning 23. The Germany international has scored four goals in as many competitive games this season, including one against arch-rivals Borussia Dortmund.
- The Bavarians beat Mainz 5-4 on penalties in the third place play-off of the 2011 LIGAtotal! Cup in 2011
- Mainz managed to earn a 0-0 draw in this fixture at the end of last season and a 2-1 win the campaign before.
- Croatian striker Ivan Klasnic is an international colleague of Bayern Munich’s Mario Mandzukic, who moved to the Allianz Arena this summer from Wolfsburg.
- Mainz also faced Bavarian opposition a fortnight ago, when they were beaten 1-0 at home by Greuther Furth.