Hannover coach Mirko Slomka has set his sights on qualifying for Europe again next season ahead of Saturday's Bundesliga trip to Mainz.

The Reds face Club Brugge in the last 32 of the Europa League next week and, after experiencing four unforgettable European nights at the Niedersachsen Stadion already this term, their appetite has been whetted for more.

Thanks to a run of seven games unbeaten, Hannover are now just a point behind sixth place, which would guarantee a place in the Europa League next season.

And Slomka has made it clear that is his objective.

"We want to maintain the pressure on the sides above us," he said.

"We are fighting to take one of those places above us and our aim is to qualify for Europe, and for that we need to win in Mainz."

It will be Hannover's first visit to Mainz's new Coface Arena and the home team's coach Thomas Tuchel believes their new stadium is slowly becoming a fortress.

"When we were at the Bruchwegstadion, the small passage from the bus into the tight away team's dressing room was a taste of what our visitors were to expect on the field," he said at the pre-match press conference.

"It has taken us a bit of time to regain that feeling, but now I think we are used to our new home.

"In recent games, it has become more uncomfortable to come to Mainz.

"Now we know how noisy and supportive our new arena can be and I believe we are a strong side at home and our guests know what to expect from the first minute."

Tuchel can welcome Adam Szalai back into his side after he recovered from a thigh strain, but Bo Svensson and Marcel Risse are still out.

Hannover are still without striker Didier Ya Konan, who has reached the final of the African Nations Cup with the Ivory Coast, but he could return in the Europa League next week.