Werder Bremen coach Thomas Schaaf has rejected criticism of Saturday's opponents Bayer Leverkusen from their own fans.

The Leverkusen players were booed off the field at the BayArena last weekend, despite defeating Mainz 3-2.

Their coach Robin Dutt appears to be losing friends by the week, not least after he substituted Michael Ballack last Saturday, much to the fans' disapproval.

Yet Schaaf has seen a different Leverkusen in action, and he knows what his side will come up against on Friday.

"As far as I know, they are still in the Champions League," he said, rejecting claims that Leverkusen's season so far has been a failure.

"We are faced with a very difficult but also a very attractive challenge.

"They are a very good team who have a lot to offer and have some very strong individual players."

A look at the league table suggests that Bremen are even stronger, however.

They hold a one-point advantage over their opponents ahead of a game which could decide which, if either of these two clubs, could yet mount a challenge to the top four for a place in the Champions League next season.

Should Leverkusen win, it would be the first time all season that they would move above Werder Bremen in the table, and despite the disgruntlement on the outside, Dutt is happy with the way things are going.

"We have showed that we are in a good condition physically and my team has confirmed this in training during the week," he said at the pre-match press conference.

"Overall, they are making a very solid impression."

Dutt has yet to decide whether Ballack will start Friday's game, but he does have his club captain Simon Rolfes available again.

However, he has hinted that they could both find themselves on the bench.

Bremen coach Schaaf could give new signing Francois Affolter a debut following his transfer from Young Boys Berne.

He is a candidate to replace Sebastian Prodl, who picked up multiple facial fractures last weekend and faces a long spell on the sidelines.