Schalke coach Huub Stevens knows his side could be alone at the top of the Bundesliga table with a win over Cologne.

The Royal Blues are in a three-team share of top spot with Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, whose games against Wolfsburg and Hoffenheim will have concluded by the time they take to the field at the Mungersdorfer Stadion.

However, Stevens says their results will be the last thing on his mind as he prepares his team for a game like any other on Saturday evening.

"The table never lies, but it is only momentary - we have not won anything yet by a long shot," he said.

"Anybody is capable of beating anybody and if we want to win, then we are going to have to put all of our quality into the game.

"Cologne are very strong, particularly at home, and it is not going to be easy to get anything from there."

Stevens knows better than many how strong Cologne can be at home having led them to the second division title in 2005 before leaving the club for family reasons.

"I had a good time there," said Stevens at the pre-match press conference.

"But now my priority is to win with Schalke in Cologne because we want to improve our position in the Bundesliga."

Raul is a doubt for the game while Benedikt Howedes and Alexander Baumjohann are both definitely out.

Cologne coach Stale Solbakken knows how important three points would be for his side on Saturday having lost against Wolfsburg last weekend.

That defeat has left them just four points above the relegation zone, and that gap may have reduced to one point by the time they take to the field.

"I am expecting one or three points, but I also know that things can be dramatic if we lose," he said.

Lukas Podolski should be fit to lead the Cologne attack while Henrique Sereno is back from suspension and Kevin McKenna is available again.