New Hamburg coach Mirko Slomka is looking forward to hosting Borussia Dortmund on Saturday as he begins the task of escaping the relegation places to ensure his new club's Bundesliga survival.
Slomka penned a two-year deal as Hamburg coach on Monday, replacing ex-Netherlands boss Bert van Marwijk who was sacked last Saturday with the club second from bottom and on an eight-match losing streak.
The 46-year-old Slomka has just 13 matches left to prevent former European champions Hamburg being relegated from Germany's top flight for the first time.
And he has a tough opener against a resurgent Dortmund side who have won their last four matches and are eager to reclaim second spot in the league.
Jurgen Klopp's Dortmund will be using the match to tune up for Tuesday's Champions League last 16, first-leg trip to Russia to face Zenit St Petersburg having hammered Eintracht Frankfurt 4-0 at home last Saturday.
"The challenge of facing Dortmund is a good measuring stick for us," said Slomka.
"Everyone knows them and how they play, but we have a home game and, as I already have said and will keep on saying, we must win our home games."
Both sides have injury concerns with Hamburg missing captain Rafael van der Vaart, who suffered an ankle injury in last Saturday's 4-2 loss at bottom side Eintracht Braunschweig which led to Van Marwijk's dismissal.
Dortmund hope to welcome back winger Marco Reus, although centre-back Mats Hummels is expected to miss out as his ankle injury continues to heal.
League leaders Bayern Munich are at mid-table Hanover 96 on Sunday evening looking to maintain their 16-point lead at the top of the table and extend their unbeaten league run to 47 matches.
Schalke host Mainz 05 while Bayer Leverkusen travel to European hopefuls Wolfsburg.
