According to Freiburg's assistant coach Damir Buric, Hoffenheim will present the season's biggest challenge.

And since Freiburg managed to pick up only one point from the visits of that leading trio, Buric knows his side will have their work cut out getting anything tomorrow.

"Hoffenheim is the strongest team to come here so far," he said.

"They have strengthened their defence and Hoffenheim are one of the strongest attacking teams in the league.

"They play so quickly when in possession and have individual quality which can decide any game."

Baric knows his side will have to be alert for the whole 90 minutes and look to keep Hoffenheim's attack at bay if they are to pick up any points in the Baden derby tomorrow.

"We must not concede any goals and then we have got to take our chances," he said on the club's website. "We have got to be organised."

Hoffenheim have made a "satisfactory" start to the season, according to their coach Ralf Rangnick, who now wants his side to take the next step up in class tomorrow.

"For a team with great ambitions, we have got to start winning games away from home," he said.

He has not managed to do that on two previous visits to Freiburg, losing in the second round of the DFB-Pokal last season and in the second division two years ago.

Rangnick will be without the injured Chinedu Obasi and Demba Ba, but Carlos Eduardo plays his first game since becoming a fully-fledged member of the Brazil national team this week.