"Wonderful attitude"
"The four days off did us all good," said a slightly sniffly Andreas Bergmann. "The important thing was that we were able to say goodbye to Robert last Sunday." The Reds have been in training since Monday. "I noticed that the lads are really pulling together," said the 96 coach. His charges have not lost their appetite for the game and Robert would not have wanted to have interrupted the Bundesliga season. Several discussions took place both with the manager and the priest, who was brought in to assist the players through this difficult time. "The morale in the team is excellent," said Bergmann. "Robert will always be in our thoughts. His wonderful attitude was a great example to us all."

Symbolic No1

As well as the minute's silence in all stadiums nationwide, each and every Bundesliga team will take to the field with a black ribbon on Matchday 13. "We realised through the huge participation that the footballing community does work," said 96 sporting director Jörg Schmadke. The team has also decided to wear the No1 symbol on their chests as a mark of respect for Robert. It is a symbolic gesture which Steven Cherundolo knows from the USA: "The black number is very symbolic and it allows the players to express their grief," explained Schmadke.

Hanno Balitsch up against Schalke's Sanchez

Hanke still unfit

The injury list at Hannover has not improved since the international break. Aside from Sofian Chahed, who is infected with swine flu, Steven Cherundolo is set to miss out with a knee injury. Mike Hanke had been looking forward to making his return against Schalke, but the comeback is very unlikely according to coach Bergmann. Hanke is back in training, but the match against his former employers has come just too soon. Didier Ya Konan is fit again having resumed training on Thursday and if no problems arise, he can be expected to start on Saturday.

Schalke themselves will be without five first team regulars. Aside from long-term absentees Jermaine Jones and Christian Pander, the Royal Blues will be without the suspended Carlos Zambrano, ex-Hannover man Gerald Asamoah and Levan Kenia. There is also a question mark over the fitness of Jefferson Farfan, who is suffering from a lung infection.

Hannover's bogey team

The last time the Reds won in Schalke was seven years ago when Jiri Stajner scored in a 2-0 victory for the 96ers. Since then, Hannover have not been able to come away with all three points and three cup defeats at the Veltins Arena in the last five years make for very sorry reading.

"We want to fight for all three points against Schalke and put in a decent performance," said Bergmann in a rallying cry. "We worked very hard during the week in order to take out minds off the current situation." The team are said to be in "determined spirits". What is now important is that the team approach the match in their usual professional manner and attempt to return to normality: "Schalke won't be giving us anything for free and it's important for us to realise that Saturday's match is a normal Bundesliga game," added Bergmann. Schalke coach Felix Magath sees the situation similarly: "We need to put all the events around Robert's death to the back of our minds and get back to reality."


Rausch controls the ball

Choreography for Robert
As usual, the Veltins Arena is set to be packed to the rafters on Saturday with a full 61,673 fans expects. 3000 Hannover fans are expected to make the trip for a game which will start with a minute's silence - as will all Bundesliga games around the country. Then it's time for action. Robert is also set to be honoured by the home fans, who have promised a choreographed tribute before the match. A wonderful gesture which underlines the feelings of the football world at this time.

Facts, facts, facts!

• Schalke have only lost one of their last nine games against Hannover.

• Hannover's last victory over the Royal Blues came way back in the 2002/3 season, when Jiri Stajner struck in a 2-0 victory.

• Schalke have only won 48.2% of their tackles - the worst success rate in the entire league.

• Schalke have scored in each of their last eight matches - the best such run in the league.

Possible line ups:

Hannover 96: Fromlowitz - Cherundolo (Schmiedebach), Haggui, Schulz, Djakpa (Rausch) - Balitsch - Pinto, Rosenthal - Bruggink - Stajner, Ya Konan

Schalke 04: Neuer - Rafinha, Höwedes, Bordon, Westermann - Matip - Moritz, Schmitz - Holtby (Rakitic) - Kuranyi, Farfan (Altintop)