Mainz vs Bayer Leverkusen preview - Two Schmidts primed for battle

Mainz coach Martin Schmidt is looking forward to Saturday's game against his namesake Roger when Bayer Leverkusen visit the Coface Arena fresh from their DFB-Pokal elimination at the hands of Bayern Munich.

Leverkusen lost to Bayern after a penalty shootout on Wednesday night while Schmidt and his team were able to watch from the comfort of their own living room, saving their energy for Saturday.

Despite the emotional and physical strain, the Mainz coach does not expect his team to have it easy against a side pushing for a place in the Champions League next season.

"I don't think they will be tired," he said. "They are used to playing in Europe, they have a top squad of players and are used to playing midweek matches.

"I'm sure the league, in which they are bidding to qualify for the Champions League again, is enough of a motivation for them.

"We're expecting one of the best teams in the league and it's going to be hard for us. They're a top side, but we want to give it all we've got to beat them.

"We want the points."

A win for Mainz could leave the relegation zone at a safe distance going into the final six games of the season which is why the hosts will also be motivated to take maximum points in front of their own fans.

They will be without the injured Niko Bungert due to a calf strain with Gonzalo Jara also currently out injured and Nikolce Noveski a doubt, meaning Schmidt will have to improvise at the heart of his defence.

Hakan Calhanoglu could return to the Leverkusen starting XI having been left out for their last two games in which Gonzalo Castro has partnered Stefan Kiessling in attack.

Kiessling is a doubt after being caught badly by Thiago Alcantara on Wednesday night with Josip Drmic an alternative to lead the Leverkusen frontline.