Goals are likely to be plentiful when Hertha Berlin host high-flying Hannover in the German capital on Saturday.

Last season, Hertha hammered the 96ers 4-0 at the Olympic Stadium - only to suffer a hefty 5-0 caning in the return meeting six months later.

Nothing but a win will do for Hertha if they want to keep in touch with the UEFA Cup positions, with fifth-placed Hannover holding a five-point advantage heading into Saturday's meeting.

"We need to put ourselves into a good position going into the winter break," Hertha general manager Dieter Hoeness said. "We need to show more courage."

Things will not get any easier in coming weeks with Hertha set to face four of the league's top six teams, while captain Arne Friedrich made waves this week after criticising his team-mates for a lack of discipline on the pitch.

"Everybody does what he wants," Friedrich said. "Nobody keeps his position."

However, there was at least good news on the personnel front for Hertha this week after gifted midfielder Patrick Ebert inked a contract extension.

And Ebert has immediately set his sights on this weekend's opponents.

"Hannover have a good team and it is hard to predict how they will be playing," he said. "But that must not interest us. We'll do all we can to keep the three points in Berlin."

Lucio remains sidelined for the hosts following knee surgery.

Hertha have won just four points from their last six games, while Hannover ride a six-game unbeaten streak into the match.

Hannover's long-term injury victims Thomas Brdaric (knee) and Silvio Schroter (back) remain absent, but Hanno Balitsch returns from a virus.

"This game is very important for us," said midfielder Christian Schulz. "We want to enter the international break with a good feeling."