Second-tier side Karlsruher SC will have to overcome Bundesliga team Augsburg on Wednesday if they are to progress to the quarter-finals of the DFB-Pokal when they host them at BBBank Wildpark.

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The home team were deserving winners against fourth-tier club Kickers Offenbach when considering the overall quality of their opportunities, but it should be noted that both sides statistically only produced one big chance each.

Karlsruher SC are level on points with second-placed Hamburger SV, who occupy the 2. Bundesliga's final automatic promotion spot, though just three points separates Hamburger and 11th-placed Darmstadt.

Boss Christian Eichner's side have netted 27 times and conceded on 25 occasions in the league, and of the 18 teams in the second tier, these are the division's joint fourth-best offensive and joint 13th-best defensive records.

KSC are in poor form given they have lost three, drawn one and won just one of their five most recent games, and these results include a 3-1 defeat against Hamburger in the 2. Bundesliga on Sunday.

The hosts' record at home is also poor considering they have failed to win any of their last four outings at BBBank Wildpark, although they did triumph in the prior three home matches.

Meanwhile, Augsburg come into the clash having beaten last-placed VfL Bochum 1-0 on Saturday, a match in which they produced nearly two xG, registered 16 shots and created three big chances.

Manager Jess Thorup said that he has extensively watched Wednesday's opponents, saying: "Karlsruhe are a very well-organised team and are dangerous from both crosses and set-plays."

Thorup's side are the Bundesliga's 14th highest goalscorers having netted just 14 times, and they are the league's 13th best defensive club having conceded on 23 occasions.

To their credit, Augsburg have been resilient in recent weeks, with the team winning three, drawing two and losing just one of their last six fixtures.

However, the visitors have failed to achieve victory in any of their past five away outings and have in fact been defeated in eight of their last 14 matches.

Karlsruher SC possible starting lineup:

Weiss; Jung, Franke, Beifus, Herold; Burnic, Rapp, Heusser, Wanitzek; Pfeiffer, Zivzivadze

Augsburg possible starting lineup:

Dahmen; Matsima, Gouweleeuw, Schlotterbeck; Wolf, Onyeka, Jakic, Rexhbecaj, Koudossou; Tietz, Claude-Maurice