SC Paderborn
The main competition for a starting shirt at Paderborn is in attack, where Marvin Pieringer faces pressure from Steffen Tigges for the role. Stefano Marino is expected to start alongside whichever of the two gets the nod.
Mattes Hansen remains a fixture at left wing-back, starting all four league matches so far, though he has been withdrawn before the final whistle in every one of them. Laurin Curda and Gabriel Vidović are also expected to keep their places as Paderborn return to the 3-5-2 used in three of their last four matches.
VfB Stuttgart
Dennis Seimen is pushing for the goalkeeper's shirt at Paderborn after returning from a hamstring injury to feature in a friendly against Greuther Fürth. His next step will depend on further training impressions, and he is currently preferred to Fabian Bredlow, who had started every league match in his absence.
At left-back, Maximilian Mittelstädt is expected to start ahead of Ramon Hendriks, despite starting there just once in the last five matches to Hendriks' two appearances in the role. That switch puts Chris Führich in the left-sided midfield slot Mittelstädt has also covered. Hendriks has meanwhile been cleared of a serious hand injury after scans and remains available for selection.
Dzenan Pejcinović and Ermedin Demirović are competing for the central attacking role. Pejcinović started three of the last five matches before appearing as a substitute last time out. Nikolas Nartey is a doubt after returning early from international duty with Denmark because of muscular problems, while Angelo Stiller and Grischa Prömel are expected to continue in central midfield.
