Mainz host Hertha Berlin for a hugely important battle at the bottom end of the Bundesliga table on Sunday afternoon.
Hertha sit just two points clear of the relegation play-off spot on 26 points, while Mainz are one place and two points ahead.
It goes without saying that the result of this clash is likely to have a massive say in the outcome of the Bundesliga relegation battle.
Thankfully for Mainz, they head into Sunday’s showdown on a five-match unbeaten streak in the Bundesliga.
Three wins and two draws have momentarily eased their relegation fears, but they can’t afford to get complacent.
Mainz came from 2-1 down to beat FC Koln 3-2 last weekend, thanks to a 91st-minute winner from Leandro Barreiro.
After only managing to win one of their opening 17 Bundesliga games this season, Mainz have now won six of their previous 11 league outings.
Mainz’s recent resurgent run features victories over Bundesliga heavyweights RB Leipzig and Borussia Monchengladbach.
On the flip side, Hertha have only managed to win two of their previous 14 games in the German top-flight.
However, they have only lost one of their previous five, with two victories and two draws coming along the way.
Only the bottom two sides – Koln and Schalke – have conceded more Bundesliga goals than Hertha this season.
On a brighter note, Hertha Berlin have scored more goals than six teams in the division, including Sunday’s opponents, Mainz.
Hertha managed to hold Gladbach to a 2-2 draw last weekend, meaning they head into Sunday’s game on the back of successive draws.
Head-to-head: Hertha and Mainz played out a dull goalless draw in the reverse fixture back in December.
However, Mainz beat Hertha twice last season, claiming at 2-1 home victory and a 3-1 win away from home.
Team news: Mainz only have one serious injury concern at the moment, with centre-back Luca Kilian sidelined with a hamstring problem.
On the flip side, Hertha are currently without Rune Jarstein, Eduard Lowen, Dedryck Boyata and Luca Netz.
With just two points between Mainz and Hertha as things stand, this is likely to be a tight affair with few clear-cut goalscoring opportunities.
Forebet predicts that Mainz and Hertha will produce a low-scoring draw on Sunday, although both teams are expected to get on the scoresheet.