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Bundesliga

Stuttgart and Hertha Berlin were both challenging for the Bundesliga title six months ago, but they are now in the midst of a very different battle.

Hertha have not won since the opening day of the season and find themselves rooted to the bottom of the table with just four points from 12 games.

Stuttgart have not fared much better either with 10 points so far this campaign so both will be looking to turn the corner when they meet at the Mercedes-Benz Arena tomorrow.

"We are anything but happy with how the season has gone so far, but our form appears to be rising again over the last few games, although we have still only been getting draws," said Stuttgart striker Cacau.

"If we could just be a bit more decisive and have more concentration in the key moments, then we will finally leave the field victorious again."

That must happen both tomorrow and on Tuesday if Stuttgart are to get their season back on track.

In midweek, Markus Babbel's side travel to Rangers where they must beat the Scottish champions to boost their chances of reaching the knockout stages of the Champions League.

But Cacau insists they are taking things just one game at a time.

"We are only looking at Saturday's game with Hertha," he told herthabsc.de. "Nothing else is important right now.

"From Monday, we will start to deal with the Champions League."

Hertha coach Friedhelm Funkel has been looking beyond this weekend by making several business trips during the international break.

He and the club's general manager Michael Preetz have been scouting on several transfer targets who the club are looking to bring in during the winter break.

Given their record of having conceded more than any other Bundesliga club and scored fewer, a defender and a striker are the likely targets.

"I think everybody can see where we need to strengthen," admitted Preetz.

Former striker Marko Pantelic, who left the club for Ajax in the summer, is a reported target and Funkel admitted he would "never have let him leave" had he been in charge at the time.

Artur Wichniarek is the only fit striker available for tomorrow's trip to Stuttgart while Raffael and Sascha Burchert are both suspended.