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Home form has been crucial to Fürth's potential survival push, previously going six unbeaten at the Sportpark Ronhof, where they have picked up 13 of their 14 points this season. That streak was snapped in rather chastening fashion last Sunday with a 6-1 thrashing at the hands of RB Leipzig. And that was despite taking a fourth-minute lead through Jamie Leweling, who is now three behind eight-goal top scorer Branimir Hrgota. The result leaves Die Kleeblätter nine points adrift of Hertha Berlin and VfB Stuttgart in the two places immediately above, and 11 off still improbable outright safety with eight games to go. Attacking midfielder Jeremy Dudziak is out with an Achilles problem, so Havard Nielsen will likely continue behind captain Hrgota and Leweling. Timothy Tillman is also set to return in place of Julian Green after the two US-eligible midfielders swapped places last week.
Petersen has grown accustomed to his role as a substitute at Freiburg, which is hardly a bad thing considering he holds the Bundesliga record for most goals scored when coming off the bench. And putting the ball in the net hasn't been an issue for the Black Forest club either. They are unbeaten in five, with Grifo's brace - including a top-corner free-kick - giving them a 3-2 victory last time out over Wolfsburg and putting Christian Streich's men level on points with fourth-placed Leipzig and Hoffenheim, and just one behind Bayer Leverkusen in third. It was the impressive Nico Schlotterbeck who scored the winner with a thunderous hit, having started the game alongside brother Keven in defence. The latter may drop out as Streich reverts to a back four with a number of players still sidelined. Ermedin Demirovic could continue to keep Petersen out the side.
Match stats
Five of Hrgota's eight Bundesliga goals have been penalties - a joint league high. Freiburg top scorer Grifo has also struck five times from the spot.
Fürth are nine points adrift of safety. No team has ever overturned such a deficit at this juncture in a campaign.
The Clover Leaves have taken just one point from the last 12 on offer, and are pointless against top-six opposition this season.
Petersen - the Bundesliga's record substitute goalscorer - has hit four goals in seven career meetings with Fürth.
Mark Flekken has repelled a league-high 79 percent of shots on his goal this season. The Dutchman made three Bundesliga 2 appearances for Fürth between 2013 and 2016.
Streich can claim the Freiburg record for most Bundesliga wins outright. He is currently level with Volker Finke (104).
Probable line-ups
Fürth: Linde - Meyerhöfer, Griesbeck, Viergever, Willems - Seguin, Christiansen, Tillman - Nielsen - Leweling, Hrgota (c)
Out: Dudziak (Achilles), Funk (knee), Itter (not included), Jung (match fitness), Kehr (knee), Ngankam (knee), Pululu (not included)
Doubtful: Bauer (dental)
Coach: Stefan Leitl
Freiburg: Flekken - Schmid, Gulde, N. Schlotterbeck, Günter (c) - Eggestein, Höfler - Sallai, Höler, Grifo - Demirovic
Out: Keitel (broken toe), Schade (abdominals)
Doubtful: Kübler (muscular), Jeong (not included), Lienhart (not included)
Coach: Christian Streich