Borussia Dortmund have been dealt a blow ahead of Saturday's clash at Werder Bremen -- their first Bundesliga game of 2017 -- with Germany international Sven Bender their latest injury victim.

Dortmund confirmed on Thursday that Bender, a centre-back or defensive midfielder, tore ligaments in his right ankle in Tuesday's 6-1 friendly win at third-division Paderborn.

Magazine Kicker speculate he could be out for up to six weeks.

Bender's injury is a new set back for Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel with Greece centre-back Sokratis rated 'doubtful' for the Bremen match after picking up an ankle knock last week in Borussia's training camp in Spain.

Tuchel is already without the league's top-scorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who has 16 goals in 15 games, as the striker is on Africa Cup of Nations duty with Gabon.

Winger Ousmane Dembele is doubtful for Bremen with a hip injury, winger Marco Reus picked up a back problem in Spain and Colombia striker Adrian Ramos is set to leave for Chinese Super League club Chongqing Dangdai Lifan.

Sixth-placed Dortmund drew all of their last three league games of 2016 and are 12 points behind German league leaders Bayern Munich while Bremen are just above the relegation places.

Borussia's bosses are unhappy with Bender's injury, the result of a rough tackle by a Paderborn player, which Dortmund's director of sport Michael Zorc described as 'brutal'.

"We won't be coming back here again unless we have to. There was no need for a sliding tackle like that on the halfway line," fumed Zorc after Germany's Andre Schuerrle netted twice in the friendly win.