Though sitting side-by-side in the Bundesliga standings, Borussia Monchengladbach and Wolfsburg are separated by seven points ahead of their Easter Sunday encounter in North Rhine-Westphalia.
The visitors remain in contention for a top-six finish after their dramatic late comeback last week, while Gladbach are set to see out the season in mid-table mediocrity.
Match preview
© Reuters
Following their goalless stalemate with Koln last time out, Borussia Monchengladbach have suffered a five-game winless run for the first time under head coach Daniel Farke - indeed, only Koln are enduring a longer streak without victory throughout the Bundesliga.
In all, Gladbach have managed just one win from their last eight league matches - that being a shock 3-2 defeat of Bayern Munich - and they are faring little better than last season in terms of points accrued.
A tally of just 32 from 26 matches may be two more than this time last year, but both represent the club's worst such hauls since it took a relegation playoff to stay up back in 2011.
Farke has been unable to find a solution to their Achilles' heel, as Die Fohlen have so far dropped 14 points from winning positions - only Augsburg have squandered more.
Surely safe from the drop already, Gladbach will want to end a difficult season in style, but beating Wolfsburg has historically proved a tall task: the Rhine club have lost almost half of their 45 meetings with the Wolves in Germany's top flight.
More recently, though, they are unbeaten in six straight league games against Sunday's visitors, and in October's reverse fixture, Marcus Thuram bagged his fourth Bundesliga brace to secure a 2-2 draw.
© Reuters
Wolfsburg will arrive in Monchengladbach having lost only one of their last nine away games, winning five times in the process.
Conceding 12 goals on the road this season also sees the Lower Saxony side hold the Bundesliga's best defensive record in that regard, while they have recently managed three consecutive clean sheets away from home.
A fourth this weekend would equal their club record, and coach Niko Kovac would certainly welcome such a feat as he seeks to lead Die Wolfe into Europe.
Their deficit to sixth-placed Eintracht Frankfurt is only two points heading into the Easter weekend, after late goals from Luca Waldschmidt and Lukas Nmecha in last week's 2-2 home draw with Augsburg helped them salvage their 12th point from a losing position.
That also represents a joint-league best and demonstrates their resolve under Kovac, who still has a point to prove after failing at both Bayern and Monaco.
Team News
© Reuters
One of Europe's most in-demand midfielders, Gladbach's Manu Kone became the first player to pick up 10 Bundesliga bookings this season after his latest yellow-card offence against Koln. The France Under-21 international must therefore serve a suspension on Sunday.
No-one has played as many minutes for Borussia so far this term, so his replacement will have big shoes to fill. Julian Weigl has returned to training following two months out of action, but Florian Neuhaus is more likely to deputise.
Tony Jantschke remains unavailable due to injury, but Daniel Farke should otherwise have a full squad to select from, with Marcus Thuram leading the line up front; no other player in the German top flight has taken as many shots (77) or had as many major chances (25) as Die Fohlen's 12-goal top scorer this season.
Wolfsburg, meanwhile, must line up without the man who rescued them in stoppage time last week, as Lukas Nmecha's knee injury sees the striker join suspended colleague Patrick Wimmer on the sidelines.
American teenager Kevin Paredes could therefore make only his second Bundesliga start since signing from D.C. United; Luca Waldschmidt could also come into contention after his goal against Augsburg.
In defence, Ridle Baku's ban opens up a chance for Kilian Fischer to step in to the visitors' back four.
Borussia Monchengladbach possible starting lineup:
Omlin; Scally, Itakura, Elvedi, Bensebaini; Kramer, Neuhaus; Hofmann, Stindl, Plea; Thuram
Wolfsburg possible starting lineup:
Casteels; Fischer, Van de Ven, Lacroix, Otavio; F. Nmecha, Arnold, Gerhardt; Paredes, Marmoush, Kaminski
We say: Borussia Monchengladbach 1-1 Wolfsburg
The combination of Wolfsburg's away record and Gladbach's good home form - which has kept them out of a relegation fight - means that there is little to choose between the teams before kickoff. A low-scoring draw could be the outcome, then, which would prove more frustrating for the away side.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
