Bayer Leverkusen are not getting carried away dreaming about the league title despite sitting at the top of the table.

Leverkusen can still be caught at the top of the table by Hamburg, although their four-point cushion over third-placed Schalke and eight-point advantage over Bayern Munich is secure for at least a fortnight.

Yet it is still early days to start thinking about the title, according the the squad's most experienced player Sami Hyypia.

"It is only just October and lots of clubs still want to win the league," said the former Liverpool defender.

"There is still a long way to go."

Leverkusen know better than many how long a season lasts having fallen away dramatically in each of the last two seasons.

Last year, they were one of the title candidates going into the last few months of the season, but they eventually missed out on a place in Europe, ending the year in ninth.

Caution, therefore, is the buzzword in Leverkusen, even if striker Stefan Kiessling believes there is no comparison between the current side and the ones which capitulated in the last two years.

"I would say that this is the most mature Leverkusen team in the last few years," he said.

"You can see what potential is in the team and what is possible."

Bayer's next game in a fortnight is against Hamburg at the HSV Arena.

While it is too early for Bayer to think about the title, it would be equally hasty for Nurnberg to doubt their coach Michael Oenning.

"We are not going to start discussing the coach after seven or eight games," said director of sport Martin Bader.

"We have chosen our route. Michael Oenning gave us lots of joy for a year when we were promoted and we may be stuck in a drought now, but we will get out of it together."