Nuri Sahin is in line for his second Borussia Dortmund debut in Saturday's clash with Werder Bremen after being included in Jurgen Klopp's squad for their first Bundesliga fixture of 2013.
Sahin joined Dortmund on loan from Real Madrid, just 18 months after leaving the club to move to this season on loan at Liverpool but rarely featured, which is why he may have to wait patiently for his chance.
"Physically, Nuri's in very good shape, but he hasn't played that much," said Klopp.
Sahin did appear for 45 minutes in a friendly match last weekend, but Sven Bender and Sebastian Kehl are still more likely to start Saturday's match at the Weser Stadion with Sahin on the bench.
Either way, Bremen coach Thomas Schaaf knows what to expect.
"It doesn't matter who they field in the midfield, they have such high quality in there," he said.
"We don't have to concern ourselves with the actual players' names. Sahin has already shown how strong he is and he fits in well in Dortmund with the quality he has got."
Schaaf has enough quality within his own side to celebrate a winning stat to 2013, although he does have to make do without forward Marko Arnautovic.
Niclas Fullkrug, a potential replacement of the Austrian is also ruled out due to injury, but Schaaf is nevertheless optimistic about his side's chances in the second half of the season.
"The wins in our training camp give us self-confidence and self-belief," he said.
"I hope that the impressions we have had from the preparation will be confirmed and we can get a good result.
"We just want to play the best second half to the season as possible."
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