In one of the final fixtures of the 13th round of the second German division, one of the most stable representatives of the championship will face the last year's Bundesliga participant. Heidenheim have indeed been in the promotion battle zone year in and year out, and a few seasons ago they even made the play-offs with the third bottom team in the Bundesliga. Groiter Fürth, on the other hand, were successful in the Bundesliga Second Division the year before last, but have performed so well in the elite that they have become the main provider of points to teams of all levels there. Most frustrating for fans from Fürth is that their club continued their decline in the Second Division as well, approaching the upcoming match as the 'inhabitant' of the potential relegation zone.

Heidenheim started the current season quite confidently. In the opening 12 rounds, the team lost only twice, unsuccessfully visiting Hamburg and Holstein Kiel. In the other encounters, Schmidt's charges tried to be as unstoppable as possible and achieved their goals: five wins and five draws. Last week, Heidenheim lost twice for the first time this season. After losing in Kiel, the team crashed out of the German Cup on Wednesday following a trip to the capital city to Bundesliga leaders Union Berlin. Traditionally for the last few years, Heidenheim have not lost at home. Of the five home games, the team has won three and drawn twice.

Greuther Fürth, having returned to the Second Bundesliga, immediately began to show signs of "contenders" for promotion to the Third Division. From mid-July to mid-September, the team's play was disastrous, reflected in their last place in the division and relegation from the German Cup. It was only in the ninth round match against Paderborn that Groiter picked up their first and last win to date. At the same time, the club from Fürth has not lost since that match, having drawn three times against representatives of the second half of the standings: Zandhausen, Regensburg and Hansa.

In the last three meetings between Heidenheim and Greuther Fürth, two wins have come from the former and one from the guests of the upcoming game. All the matches have been quite tightly fought. It is unlikely that the upcoming match will be an easy stroll for the home team either. However, the home-field factor and more consistent play will bring Heidenheim success.