Robin Dutt believes Freiburg is coming up against "maybe the best team" in the Bundesliga when Werder Bremen arrive at the Dreisamstadion.

Freiburg have already met Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, Hamburg and Schalke this season, but Dutt thinks none of those sides can currently match tomorrow's opponents.

"Personally, I think Bremen are one of the favourites for the title," he said at a press conference.

"The way they play, they are maybe the best team in the league with one of the best coaches."

His assistant Damir Buric added that Bremen "are not up there by chance".

"They are in excellent form and have developed really well and have a very strong attack," he said.

That attack may not be so strong tomorrow, though, since Claudio Pizarro misses out with an ankle injury for which he has been receiving treatment in Munich for much of the last fortnight.

Tim Borowski is also out while influential midfielder Torsten Frings says he only has a "55% chance" of playing.

At least Schaaf was able to breathe a sigh of relief yesterday when his international players returned to Bremen unscathed.

"All of our players who were with their national teams have returned healthy," he said.

That includes Naldo, who was unable to play for Brazil due to a groin strain, but is available tomorrow.

"It was a shame that I was unable to play, but at least I am now fully fit again," he said.