Mainz vs SC Freiburg preview - Three would be a charm for Freiburg

All good things come in threes, although for Freiburg to prove that adage in Mainz this Saturday they need to do something they have never done before.

The Baden-Wurttemberg side have left the bottom three thanks to back-to-back wins against Cologne and Schalke - their first two wins of the season.

To complete a hat-trick of victories and continue their climb up the table, Christian Streich's men know they must improve significantly on a record in the Hessian city which has seen them pick up just two points and score only one goal in six previous visits.

"We've got to keep up with the tempo, but we know that, just like we know how we won our last two games," said Streich, who says Mainz have a much stronger squad than his side.

"They have a player like (Ja-Cheol) Koo who's sitting on the bench most of the time - just imagine that!

"We're up against a side who are strong in all areas."

The only area where Mainz may not be so strong is in their minds after losing their unbeaten record for the season recently.

Since that defeat to Wolfsburg, they also lost at home to Werder Bremen and drew at Bayer Leverkusen.

"This is a very, very important game for us," said their coach Kasper Hjulmand on his club's website.

"After the home defeat to Bremen, it's particularly important that we get back to winning ways at the Coface Arena.

"On Saturday night, there's going to be either one, four or seven points between us and Freiburg, and that's why it's so important."

Mainz may have to do without Nikolce Noveski, who has a thigh strain - the same injury which has already ruled out Philipp Wollscheid.

Sascha Riether misses out for Freiburg due to a calf injury, but Marc-Oliver Kempf is back in training and could return after a three-week injury absence.