Basle vs Schalke preview - Jones missing for Schalke

Schalke make the trip to Switzerland for the Champions League clash with Basle without midfielder Jermaine Jones, who has been dropped from first-team duties until further notice.

The United States international was harshly criticised by the Gelsenkirchen club's director of sport Horst Heldt for his performance in Saturday's 3-3 draw with Hoffenheim and he has since been given a break to consider his future at the club.

"It is purely for sporting reasons," Heldt said. "It is not written in any manual, nor is it part of our training plan that you dribble your way out of the defence when you are the last man.

"Schalke is the priority and everybody has got to be fully aware of that, only some players did not seem so aware in the second half (against Hoffenheim)."

Heldt expects a reaction in Basel, but he knows it is not going to be easy after watching Murat Yakin's side pull off the shock of the first night in Group E by winning at Chelsea.

"That result complicates matters in the group somewhat," said Heldt on Sport1.de. "We hadn't really counted on that happening.

"Now they can take a huge step towards qualifying by beating us and we expect it to be a cauldron there."

After beating Steaua Bucharest 3-0 in their first group game, Schalke know how much a win would boost their own chances of reaching the last 16 and they are going to St. Jakob-Park with a clear intention to pick up a positive result.

"We know it will be tough, but we want to get something from the game," striker Adam Szalai told his club's website.

"Basle are a strong side and we saw that with their game in London, but we want to establish a good position going into the coming games in the group."

So too do Basle after their unexpected victory over the Europa League holders, but the enthusiasm after that win was dampened somewhat by Saturday's 2-2 league draw with Sion.

They also lost Fabian Schar to injury in that game and are now sweating over the defender's fitness.

"It all depends on how much pain he is feeling," club doctor Markus Weber told his club's website.

Scans on his knee failed to show any serious damage and he will take a late fitness test on Tuesday morning to assess his availability.

Arlind Ajeti and Gaston Sauro are on standby as Basle seek a repeat of their last result at home to German opposition, a 1-0 victory against Bayern Munich in the Champions League two seasons ago.