Schalke will be nearly at full strength on Saturday, with only goalkeepers Ralf Fahrmann and Timo Hildebrand sidelined with injuries. It is anticipated that Benedikt Howedes will move into a right-back position, and that Christian Fuchs will return to play on the opposite side of defence.
Jermaine Jones' role as a midfield anchor is considered safe, but his partner in the centre is uncertain with either Marco Hoger or Lewis Holtby set to fit in alongside the USA international.
Mario Gotze missed Wednesday's 1-0 win over Bayern, but is expected to be fit to feature as a substitute in the big derby. The youngster's return means that only long-term absentee Julian Koch will be out of action for the title holders.
Jurgen Klopp is expected to retain the core of his midweek starting XI, although there may be one change with Sven Bender replacing veteran Sebastian Kehl in defensive midfield.
Prediction | PROBABLE LINEUPS |
SCHALKE  Unnerstall Howedes, Matip, Papadopoulos, Fuchs Jones, Hoger Farfan, Raul, Draxler Huntelaar | DORTMUND  Weidenfeller Piszczek, Subotic, Hummels, Schmelzer Bender, Gundogan Kuba, Kagawa, Grosskreutz Lewandowski |
Schalke will be nearly at full strength on Saturday, with only goalkeepers Ralf Fahrmann and Timo Hildebrand sidelined with injuries. It is anticipated that Benedikt Howedes will move into a right-back position, and that Christian Fuchs will return to play on the opposite side of defence.
Jermaine Jones' role as a midfield anchor is considered safe, but his partner in the centre is uncertain with either Marco Hoger or Lewis Holtby set to fit in alongside the USA international.
Mario Gotze missed Wednesday's 1-0 win over Bayern, but is expected to be fit to feature as a substitute in the big derby. The youngster's return means that only long-term absentee Julian Koch will be out of action for the title holders.
Jurgen Klopp is expected to retain the core of his midweek starting XI, although there may be one change with Sven Bender replacing veteran Sebastian Kehl in defensive midfield.
| DID YOU KNOW |
Schalke have dropped points just twice at the Veltins-Arena this season (one draw, two losses).
- Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has been on target 43 times this season in all competitions. His 24 strikes in the Bundesliga are second only to Mario Gomez's count of 25.
- The most likely S04 starting line-up contains just two players born in the Ruhr area: Joel Matip and Julian Draxler.
- Dortmund have won two of the last three derby matches with Schalke. The other was a scoreless draw
- The last time BVB visited Gelsenkirchen, away fans staged a boycott due to increased ticket prices.
- Robert Lewandowski has scored four goals in as many games. His tally now stands at 25 in all competitions, plus 10 assists in 41 appearances
The Ruhr derby is always a spirited clash, and Dortmund will be feeling both joy and fatigue heading into the match. While Schalke's leaky defence did concede four times in midweek, the fact that they will play at home and will revert to their preferred back four ahead of the BVB clash suggests the Nurnberg disaster was only a one-off. A draw is fitting.
Editor's Prediction
Schalke 1-1 Dortmund 
