Bayern Munich hope German midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger will start against Freiburg in the Bundesliga on Saturday as the holders warm up for next week's Champions League clash at Arsenal.
The 29-year-old came back after three months out with an ankle injury, playing the last 25 minutes of Wednesday's 5-0 romp at Hamburg in the German Cup quarter-finals.
Schweinsteiger is set to feature at Munich's Allianz Arena as the European champions prepare to face the Gunners away in Wednesday's Champions League last-16 first leg.
Coach Pep Guardiola welcomed back his midfield general: "It's super, super, super news. He has huge experience, but he still needs time."
Such is Bayern's strength in depth that they have continued to win even without Schweinsteiger and injured French winger Franck Ribery.
Bayern have won their past nine matches, are unbeaten in a record 45 league games and are 13 points clear on the table.
Freiburg coach Christian Streich has suggested some unusual tactics against the league leaders -- to make sure Bayern enjoy themselves.
"Bayern should have fun and they only have that when they play against a good opponent," said the eccentric Streich, with his side 15th in the league, just above the relegation places.
Third-placed Borussia Dortmund are chasing a second win this week over Eintracht Frankfurt at home.
Gabon international winger Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang headed home Dortmund's second-half winner at Frankfurt in Tuesday's 1-0 cup quarter-final victory.
Frankfurt climbed to 12th with a 3-0 win at home to bottom side Eintracht Braunschweig last Saturday as they bounced back from their 5-0 drubbing at Bayern the week before.
Dortmund hope to have German midfielders Marco Reus and Sven Bender back from thigh injuries in last Saturday's 5-1 win over Werder Bremen.
Bert van Marwijk is in a precarious position as he takes 17th-placed Hamburg to bottom side Eintracht Frankfurt with huge doubts over his future after a club-record six league defeats.
Ex-Bayern, Schalke and Wolfsburg coach Felix Magath has already been widely tipped to replace former Holland coach Van Marwijk, who only took charge in September.
In Saturday's top clash, second-side Bayer Leverkusen, who suffered a shock 1-0 cup defeat at home to second-division Kaiserslautern on Wednesday, host fourth-placed Schalke.
Schalke were buoyed on Thursday when captain and centre-back Benedikt Hoewedes made a surprise return to training after recovering from a leg injury.
