Pal not blue about Hertha situation - Mainz vs Hertha BSC Berlin preview

Pal Dardai hopes to turn around the fortunes of freefalling Hertha Berlin immediately when he takes charge of their trip to Mainz on Saturday.

The Hungary national team coach was appointed as caretaker coach of the Bundesliga strugglers after Jos Luhukay was fired on Thursday.

Hertha have lost three games in a row without scoring, slumping to second from the bottom of the table as a result - but Dardai has vowed to "work myself to death" to ensure they do not go down this season.

"I am a Berliner; I am a Herthaner," he said. "I have blue blood."

Dardai knows he does not have any time to waste, not only for the Bundesliga club.

His own future depends on the results he can deliver in the coming weeks, with the club's director of sport Michael Preetz not ruling out a permanent role for the former Hertha player.

"Pal is responsible and it is our desire to be successful with both of these coaches (Dardai will be assisted by Rainer Widmayer since he does not yet have his coaching badge)," Preetz said.

"However, at the same time we have a responsibility to give thought to one or two other scenarios."

All of that is of no concern to Mainz coach Kasper Hjulmand, however.

His side have made a positive start to the new year and are consequently four points clear of their guests.

"We are only concentrating on our own game, our own qualities and our own mentality," Hjulmand said at a press conference.

"The key will be how many of these we actually show."

Top-scorer Shinji Okazaki is available again after injury, although Joo-Ho Park will not appear after being given a rest following the Asian Cup final.