DFB Cup, quarter-final, take two. Some things will be different to last time, some the same. As they did 14 days ago, the team will spend the night before the tie in their own beds; however, this time the match preparation will be much more condensed...

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Thomas Tuchel held three meetings at the end of February to prepare his team to face Lotte. "Now we can do that in one sitting," the coach said, before adding: "It'll just be repetition, where I'll be asking them: So do you remember...?"

The Black and Yellows will therefore be perfectly prepared as they square off with Lotte for the right to travel to Munich in the last four. A fortnight ago Sportfreunde were lacking competitive edge following a series of match postponements, but since then they have moved up to third in the table after beating both Chemnitz and Rostock without conceding a goal. They have a game in hand on their rivals, too, and are widely regarded as being second-tier material.

"We need to take it as it is," said Tuchel ahead of the rescheduled tie, before adding of the opposition: "They will try to spring a surprise." He then spoke of a "very courageous, aggressive and passionate team that will look for chances with confidence" before concluding: "It will be a very tough task. We will give it everything we've got to reach the next round."

Question marks surround the involvement of Julian Weigl, who is suffering from muscular problems, while Sokratis is suspended after being sent off against Hertha in the last 16. (br)