Hamburger SV vs. VfB Stuttgart preview: Two sides with the top half in their sights

Hamburger SV host VfB Stuttgart at Volksparkstadion on Saturday as both clubs compete to climb into the Bundesliga's top half. Merlin Polzin's Hamburg side enter the match sitting 12th after consecutive league victories over Köln and Hoffenheim, putting them level on points with Stuttgart. Sebastian Hoeneß's Stuttgart arrive following a 3-0 victory against Bratislava in Europe.

Hamburg will be without captain Nicolai Remberg for the rest of the season due to a cruciate ligament tear, alongside several other injured players. Stuttgart are missing Maximilian Mittelstädt with a heel problem, meaning Ramon Hendriks is expected to deputize at left-back alongside ongoing absences for Dan-Axel Zagadou and Tiago Tomas.