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

Time is running out for Schalke in their bid to avoid relegation so Klaas-Jan Huntelaar needs to get the better of Augsburg goalkeeper Rafal Gikiewicz on Sunday (kick-off 1.30pm BST).

Latest

> Click here for the Schalke-Augsburg live blog

Huntelaar scored against Bayer Leverkusen last Saturday but it was scant consolation for the Bundesliga's bottom club in a 2-1 defeat. It marked the first time the veteran Dutch striker had got on the scoresheet since returning to Schalke in January. Scorer of 126 goals in his previous spell with the club between 2010 and 2017, he'll likely need to get many more if the Royal Blues are to stage a great escape this season. They start the weekend 14 points from safety with only seven games remaining, so the news that Mark Uth is back in training after two months out is welcome. Amine Harit, rather than Uth or American youngster Matthew Hoppe, is likely to join Huntelaar in attack as Schalke seek just their second league win of the season.

Schalke have no choice but to throw everything they can at Augsburg, which means that visiting netminder Gikiewicz could be in for a busy afternoon. The Pole helped Heiko Herrlich's team to a 2-1 success against Hoffenheim last weekend, which left them 11th in the table and a healthy nine points clear of the relegation places. Right-back Raphael Framberger and Swiss attacker Ruben Vargas were forced off at half-time in that game but both were back in training this week. That's good news for Augsburg, particularly since Vargas scored the opening goal and made the second against Hoffenheim before he was withdrawn. Andre Hahn will lead the line with Florian Niederlechner injured.

Watch: Augsburg and Schalke shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture

Match stats

Schalke are 12 games without a win in the Bundesliga, while they have failed to score in their past five home games - a sixth home match without scoring would set a new club record.

The Royal Blues' record against Augsburg is their best against any current Bundesliga side.

The corresponding fixture from last season was Herrlich's first in charge of Augsburg, and their 3-0 win in Gelsenkirchen remains his biggest win as Augsburg coach.

Augsburg have lost five of their past six Bundesliga away games.

Daniel Caligiuri joined Augsburg from Schalke in the summer.

Niederlechner has scored more goals against Schalke (4) than against any other Bundesliga side.

Probable line-ups

Schalke: Rönnow - Becker, Stambouli, Thiaw - Aydin, Mascarell, Kolasinac (c), Calhanoglu - Serdar - Huntelaar, Harit

Out: Bentaleb (groin), Boujellab (ankle), Ludewig (foot), Mendyl (ankle), Nastasic (calf)

Doubtful: Mercan (knee), Sane (knee), Skrzybski (knee)

Coach: Dimitrios Grammozis

Augsburg: Gikiewicz - Framberger, Gouweleeuw (c), Uduokhai, Gumny - Khedira, Gruezo - Caligiuri, Benes, Richter - Hahn

Out: Iago (ankle), Jensen (thigh)

Doubtful: Civeja (pelvis), Niederlechner (groin), Vargas (ill)

Coach: Heiko Herrlich