Hoffenheim vs. Schalke: probable line-ups, match stats and LIVE blog!

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Hoffenheim are now four unbeaten following the 1-1 draw with Freiburg on Matchday 31 (W1, D3) and can confirm their Bundesliga status for another year with victory over Schalke or if other results go their way further down the table. Sebastian Hoeneß will be aiming higher and have his sights set on a top-half finish to close out his first season at the club. Captain Benjamin Hübner heads a long injury list, but Kevin Akpoguma, Mijat Gacinovic, Marco John and Sebastian Rudy are all closing in on returns to the side. Star man Andrej Kramaric has been excellent in recent weeks and will once again be the driving force in attack, while standout on-loan youngster Ryan Sessegnon should continue on the left flank.

Schalke were unceremoniously relegated for just the fourth time in their Bundesliga history courtesy of a 1-0 defeat to Arminia Bielefeld and their bid to return to the top flight has immediately begun with the announcement that Simon Terodde will join the club from HSV in the summer. Until then, the Royal Blues - renowned as the producer of some of the best talent in Germany - have three more matchdays to enjoy in the top tier; starting with the trip to Hoffenheim. They will do so without centre-backs Malick Thiaw, Salif Sane and Benjamin Stambouli through suspensions that will force Dimitrios Grammozis into changes at the back.

Match stats

After scoring one goal between Matchdays 20-29, Kramaric has scored three across back-to-back games. He needs one more to set a new personal best and equal Vedad Ibisevic's 18-goal single-season club record.

Four matches marks Hoffenheim's longest unbeaten run since Hoeneß took charge.

Hoffenheim have only lost one of 12 Bundesliga home matches with Schalke (W6, D5).

Huntelaar has scored eight goals in 11 appearances against Hoffenheim - his best ratio of all current Bundesliga sides he has faced.

Matthew Hoppe became the first American in Bundesliga history to score a hat-trick in the reverse fixture. He was on target in his next two, but is currently 11 games without a goal.

Schalke are the only Bundesliga team without an away win this season.

Probable line-ups

Hoffenheim: Baumann (c) - Kaderabek, Posch, Vogt, Sessegnon - Grillitsch, Samassekou - Skov, Kramaric, Baumgartner - Bebou

Out: Bicakcic (knee), Dabbur (personal reasons), Geiger (hamstring), Hübner (ankle), Nordtveit (foot), Richards (thigh), Stafylidis (shoulder)

Doubtful: Akpoguma (thigh), Gacinovic (ankle), John (foot), Rudy (thigh), Samassekou (foot)

Coach: Sebastian Hoeneß

Schalke: Fährmann - Pavlidis, Mustafi, Oczipka - Becker, Serdar, Bozdogan, Kolasinac (c) - Harit - Huntelaar, Paciencia

Out: Bentaleb (groin), Boujellab (ankle), Mascarell (hamstring), Mendyl (ankle), Nastasic (calf), Skrzybski (knee), Sane (suspended), Stambouli (suspended), Thiaw (suspended), William (knee)

Doubtful: Aydin (ankle), Ludewig (foot), Mercan (knee)

Coach: Dimitrios Grammozis