Hamburg are without suspended goalkeeper and captain Rene Adler, and must wait on an injured trio, for Friday's crunch north German derby against Werder Bremen with both sides battling relegation.

Hosts Hamburg are three points from the bottom three, with Bremen in the relegation play-off place with only four games left this season.

Adler misses out after being sent off for bringing down Japan midfielder Shinji Kagawa in last Sunday's 3-0 defeat at second-placed Borussia Dortmund.

Coach Bruno Labbadia is waiting on the fitness of striker Pierre-Michel Lasogga, midfielder Albin Ekdal and forward Nicolai Mueller.

"Pierre-Michel has a ligament problem in his knee, with Albin and Nicolai it's muscular, so we'll have to see what comes out of that," explained Labbadia.

Lasogga had to be replaced after 34 minutes against Dortmund, while Mueller and Ekdal both went off in the second half.

Hamburg have won only three of their last ten games, but Bremen are two points from safety having enjoyed a 3-2 win over Champions League quarter-finalists Wolfsburg last Saturday.