Thomas Tuchel insists Mainz's game at Borussia Dortmund has little to do with himself or his predecessor, Jurgen Klopp.

Klopp left Mainz 18 months ago after 18 years as a player and a coach after failing to lead them back into the Bundesliga at the first attempt, but he is still remembered fondly by the fans who will never forget what he did for the club.

He shed tears after his final game in charge when he was given an emotional send-off by the fans, but that, according to the man who is now making all the decisions at Mainz, is water under the bridge.

"Of course it is a special game. Jurgen Klopp has defined this era with Mainz and his name cannot be taken away from the sporting progress of this club," said Tuchel.

"But despite everything, it is not him against me.

"For me, this is all about the challenge of a single game and three points. We are ready for this challenge."

Klopp has also tried to play down the significance of meeting his former club for the first time since he left.

"I always gave everything for this club, but I am now doing that for Dortmund," he said.

"Since I cannot split myself in two, one will remain a memory and the other is my daily reality."

And that means he would like nothing more than to beat Mainz, the club he still supports to this day.

"I don't want to and don't have to act as if those 18 years meant nothing to me," he told the Mainz website.

"Of course I have also got to celebrate Dortmund goals, although I still have a lot of good friends in Mainz and it is a club which belongs in my heart."

Midfielder Nuri Sahin appears to have recovered from an ankle injury and should be able to start while Jakub Blaszczykowski is also confident of playing.

Peter van der Heyden is Mainz's only doubt as he is currently fighting a virus, but Tuchel admits he is spoilt for choice and has several options to replace him.