Thomas Tuchel and Andre Breitenreiter get their first taste Ruhr of derby action this weekend as Borussia Dortmund play host to Schalke 04 in the Bundesliga.
Germany's most intense rivalry has provided many memorable matches down the years, but it is the hosts who will head into this latest instalment as strong favourites.
Borussia Dortmund
© Getty Images
Not many envied the task of Tuchel when he officially took over from Jurgen Klopp at Dortmund in the summer, but the new man at the helm has already become an instant hero at the Westfalenstadion.
Just seven points dropped from the opening 33 on offer in the Bundesliga, all of which came during a three-game winless run a little over a month ago, has left Dortmund in a far better position than 12 months ago.
In fact, after the same number of games at this stage last season, BVB had just picked up a rare victory over Borussia Monchengladbach - coming courtesy of Christoph Kramer's bizarre own goal - to temporarily climb off the foot of the Bundesliga table.
Things remained stagnant for much of the first half of the campaign, before an improvement in form allowed Klopp to bow out on a high of sorts with qualification for the Europa League secured.
Tuchel has made the perfect transition since taking over from the popular former boss, dragging Die Borussen within five points of leaders Bayern Munich and into the knockout stages of the Europa League with two games to spare.
Throw into the mix a 7-1 thrashing of Paderborn in the DFB-Pokal, and it is clear to see just why the Dortmund supporters are smiling once more following last year's disastrous campaign.
Just one defeat from their 11 league matches this season, unsurprisingly coming against fellow German heavyweights Bayern, makes this the club's joint-third best ever in terms of points on the board.
Only in 2010-11 and 2013-14 have they started better, suggesting that Tuchel very much has the magic touch to succeed much like his illustrious predecessor.
Recent form in Bundesliga: DDLWWW
Recent form (all competitions): WWWWWW
Schalke 04
© Getty Images
Rivals Dortmund may be flying high, winning each of their last six games in all competitions, but things have been far more inconsistent down the road at the Veltins Arena.
Schalke have not strung together back-to-back wins since September, as they lost two and drew one of their four league games in October to fall off the pace somewhat.
A home defeat to Gladbach did not make things any better, nor did successive draws in the Europa League which leaves Group K alive heading into the final stretch.
It is not all doom and gloom for the Royal Blues, however, as they remain in fourth place - six points off Dortmund in second - and also top of their European group.
Schalke have been dealt a difficult run of fixtures in the coming weeks, though, with games against Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen following on from this weekend's short trip to the Westfalenstadion.
The real worry for Breitenreiter is that his side could slowly slip out of the running come the end of a difficult month, telling reporters earlier this week that he can already feel the tension mounting.
That was in relation to this weekend's Revierderby, granted, but the former Paderborn boss will certainly need to see an upturn in fortunes to keep supporters fully on his side.
Schalke's biggest task on Sunday will simply be to stop their opponents scoring, with Dortmund finding the net in each of their last 18 Bundesliga outings, while at the same time scoring an impressive 32 goals in all so far this term.
Recent form in Bundesliga: WWLWLD
Recent form (all competitions): WDLLDD
Team News
© Getty Images
Tuchel made the surprising decision to name a strong starting lineup for the midweek tie against Qabala, which proved costly in the end with Marco Reus limping off.
The influential midfielder opened the scoring in the straightforward 4-0 win, but he will now miss the next two weeks of action.
That could mean a place in attack for Manchester United loanee Adnan Januzaj, playing just off an in-form Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who now has 18 goals in 15 games this season.
Schalke will be without injured captain Benedikt Howedes, as well as suspended midfielder Johannes Geis, which will undoubtedly prove to be a big blow to Breitenreiter's preparations.
Roman Neustadter and Junior Caicara are both likely to come in for the Royal Blues, meanwhile, as they look to end their rivals' strong run of form.
Borussia Dortmund possible starting lineup:
Burki; Ginter, Sokratis, Hummels, Schmelzer; Castro, Gundogan, Weigl, Kagawa, Mkhitaryan; Aubameyang
Schalke 04 possible starting lineup:
Fahrmann; Caicara, Neustadter, Matip, Aogo; Choupo-Moting, Goretzka, Kolasinac, Meyer, Sane; Di Santo
Head To Head
Schalke have the better overall record in this fixture, boasting 58 victories compared to their opponents' 50.
The sides have played out a total of 38 stalemates across the 146 previous meetings, meanwhile, with things perfectly matched over the past five encounters.
Dortmund have won two and lost two, with the other match in that run being drawn, although BVB did prevail 3-0 in the last derby clash in a match that saw them fire away a whopping 31 shots.
We say: Borussia Dortmund 2-0 Schalke 04
Borussia Dortmund have been in stellar form so far this season, bar a small spell five weeks ago when they went three without a win. There has been no sign of such trouble arriving again anytime soon, though, and Tuchel's men will keep the pressure on leaders Bayern with another win on Sunday afternoon.
No Data Analysis info
