Borussia Dortmund will host TSG 1899 Hoffenheim on Matchday 31 in the Bundesliga final sprint. Kick-off in Sinsheim is on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. UK. Borussia Dortmund will aim to build on their recent performances with ten points from four Bundesliga matches in the fight for a European spot.

The Black and Yellows will be without long-term injured Nico Schlotterbeck and Marcel Sabitzer, who could return to team training after the weekend.

Pascal Groß (knee ligament injury) and Maximilian Beier, who had to be substituted after a collision in the match against Gladbach, are also still questionable.

However, Kovac isn't giving up on the possibility of the two playing against Hoffenheim. "It's quite clear that I'd like to have both of them there. We're entering the critical phase now, and one or two of us might have to pull our weight. And the lads want to pull our weight," said Kovac.

"What I see and what I feel is that everyone wants to be involved now and is getting over the pain. But," the coach emphasizes, "if it doesn't make sense from a medical perspective or it's too dangerous, then of course we won't take any risks."

Regardless of who will be on the pitch for the Black and Yellows on Saturday, Kovac predicts "a difficult game" against Hoffenheim – even though TSG, currently in 15th place, has already built up an eight-point lead over the relegation playoff spot. "Hoffenheim plays very aggressive football, now back with a back three, then a back five. For us, that also means we have to play positively going forward to unbalance the opponent," says Kovac.