When Borussia Dortmund make the journey to Saxony-Anhalt this afternoon ahead of their DFB Cup tie with 1. FC Magdeburg, Sokratis (suspension in the Bundesliga) and other key figures who have been unavailable of late will be among the passengers on the bus.

"We have another training session this afternoon. If that goes well, then maybe Marcel Schmelzer and perhaps even Raphael Guerreiro will be able to make the trip to Magdeburg," said Peter Bosz on Monday lunchtime. The same goes for Mo Dahoud (minor infection) and André Schürrle. A definitive decision on their availability will be taken after the final training session.

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Schmelzer's absence in Frankfurt was more of a precautionary measure. "When you're out for so long, two six-week spells, you can't just play two games in the space of a week," explained the coach, who added: "I don't want him to be out for another six weeks."

The Dutchman is still without Ömer Toprak, who sustained a thigh strain in the Champions League clash in Nicosia. (br)