Unbeaten in six matches and winners of their last four Bundesliga games, the turnaround in table-topping Bayer Leverkusen's fortunes this season has been incredible.

But for their success to continue, winning at difficult venues such as Kaiserslautern's Fritz-Walter-Stadion is imperative, particularly where there are high-quality teams of the calibre of Stuttgart, Werder Bremen and Bayern Munich determined to unseat the surprise early league leaders.

Leverkusen would have been playing second division football this season had they not won their final two matches of the 2002/03 campaign, such is a measure of the decline into which they fell last season.

But the 2002 Champions League finalists have been a revitalised unit since the appointment of coach Klaus Augenthaler in May and their position atop the Bundesliga confirms their improvement.

With limited personnel changes during the summer, Augenthaler has transformed a group of players who were nearing their lowest ebb into a productive team.

A key factor in their resurgence has been the return to form of Germany internationals Bernd Schneider and Jens Nowotny.

Schneider had a poor 2002/03 season but is now showing his best form and scored the only goal last week as Leverkusen beat Borussia Monchengladbach, while Nowotny missed almost the entire campaign with a serious knee injury.

He has returned to top form since returning to the fold and is now hoping for a return to international duties in November when Germany take on France in a friendly international at Gelsenkirchen.

"(National team coach) Rudi Voller has not contacted me yet, but there are still two league matches left for me to show my strength," said Nowotny.

Diego Placente is suspended and Zoltan Sebescen ruled out by injury.

There is a doubt over Nowotny, who has a niggling injury, but he has a good chance of playing, while there will also be fitness checks of Juan and Lucio prior to the game.

Kaiserslautern have lost nine of their last 12 matches against Leverkusen, so the omens are not good for the Red Devils.

This would have been considered a relegation battle if played at this stage last season, and while Leverkusen have taken strides forward since, the same cannot be said for 'Lautern.

They have improved, but more gradually than chairman Rene C. Jaggi might have wanted, and there is pressure mounting on coach Eric Gerets to take the club into the top half of the table and keep them there.

Last week's 4-1 defeat at Bayern Munich has not helped his cause.

Striker Miroslav Klose, who the club do not expect to keep beyond next summer, scored 'Lautern's consolation and also missed a penalty in the match.

"As long as no-one wants to take them, I will continue doing so," said Klose, a goalscorer in his last five matches.

The availability of players does not augur well for the home team's chances: Hany Ramzy has a knee injury, Vratislav Lokvenc and Ciriaco Sforza remains troubled by his Achilles, Stefan Malz is unfit and Thomas Ernst has 'flu while Nenad Bjelica is suffering with pneumonia.

Aleksander Knavs and Lincoln returned to training this week but neither are expected to be involved, but Marian Hristov returns from suspension and Jose Dominguez has recovered from a head injury and should also feature.

Teams:
Kaiserslautern (probable) : Wiese, Grammozis, Lembi, Mettomo, Tchato, Dominguez, Hengen, Anfang, Kosowski, Klose, Hristov.

B Leverkusen (probable) : Butt, Babic, Nowotny, Lucio, Juan, Bastürk, Ponte, Ramelow, Schneider, Franca, Berbatov.