DORTMUND Weidenfeller Piszczek, Subotic, Hummels, Schmelzer Bender, Gundogan Kuba, Kagawa, Grosskreutz Lewandowski

STUTTGART Ulreich Sakai, Tasci, Niedermeier, Boka Kvist, Kuzmanovic Harnik, Hajnal, Schieber Ibisevic

Dortmund starlet Mario Gotze returned to training this week, but the 19-year-old is still far from being fit to start. Jakub 'Kuba' Blaszczykowski will retain his starting berth on the right flank.

In defensive midfield, Jurgen Klopp is tipped to give Ilkay Gundogan the nod, as the Turk has become a key player in the last two matches. The trainer will have a nearly full squad available, with only long-term casualty Julian Koch absent.

Vedad Ibisevic is set to return from suspension and could replace Cacau in the Stuttgart starting XI. Serdar Tasci is also expected to make his comeback following an injury lay-off, and will likely displace Maza.

Friday's match comes far too early for Khalid Boulahrouz and Shinji Okazaki, however, as the two are still recovering from knocks.

• Dortmund have not lost in the Bundesliga for 21 games. Their last defeat was on September 18, 2011.

• The title holders have attracted a club record 80,460 average attendance at home games this season. The figure is 99.7 per cent of the full capacity of the Westfalenstadion.

• In 10 appearances since the winter break, Shinji Kagawa has scored eight goals and made four assists.

• Stuttgart have won four of their last five games, conceding just twice in the process.

• After a strong start to the season, VfB sunk to 11th place before finding their form again. They now are seventh, one point away from fifth spot.

• Vedad Ibisevic has found the net four times for the Swabians since his mid-season signing from Hoffenheim. Only Martin Harnik, Shinji Okazaki and Cacau have scored more for VfB.