German Cup preview

Coach Armin Veh would not listen to talk of the "D" word after Saturday's somewhat fortunate 2-1 win over Hanover, a result that kept them in third place in the Bundesliga, four points behind the leaders.

If they win against Wolfsburg on Wednesday and again when they host Bayern Munich in the league on Saturday, there will scarcely be any avoiding it.

"We know we didn't really play well against Hanover," captain Fernando Meira told reporters, after the team needed an own-goal to clinch the win.

"But without playing well we won and that will give us self-assurance. We need to take that in to the Wolfsburg game and go out for victory there as well."

The prize for victory will be a place in the May 26 final in Berlin against the winners of Tuesday's game between Nuernberg and Eintracht Frankfurt, who lost last season's final to Bayern Munich.

Nuernberg have had an excellent second half of the season and stand in fifth place with five league matches to go, well set for a UEFA Cup slot.

They have the meanest defence in the Bundesliga, with only 26 goals conceded, and it will be quite a surprise if Frankfurt, who are involved in the relegation scrap, manage to repeat their feat from last year and reach a second successive final.