Augsburg and huffing and puffing but the Berlin wall is not falling. In fact, Hertha look comfortable and willing to play it around.

One extra minute at the end of this half.

The players are about to emerge at the WWK Arena. Kick-off only moment away...

Maaßen's Hertha counterpart, Schwarz, also expects a tough encounter today and has called on his players to "assert themselves" on the game, saying: "I expect a very competitive duel. So far Augsburg have used a back three in every game of the season, they are very man-oriented, especially in the centre. You have to assert yourself!"

Ausgburg boss Maaßen spoke pre-match of his ambition to play on the front foot today, but he remains wary of the threat the visitors pose. He said: "We have to and want to pin the opponent in our own penalty area. Hertha have three fast guys up front with a lot of speed, we'll have to carefully protect our own attacks and shouldn't allow ourselves to lose the ball easily."

It was a top up between Vargas and Barisha as to who would partner Demirovic up top for the hosts and they've gone for new arrival Berisha, who makes his debut. Further back, Iago misses out, which means Daniel Caligiuri should start on the right and Mads Pedersen moves out to the left.

Kevin-Prince Boateng misses out altogether with a muscular injury for Hertha, who bring Filip Uremovic and Ivan Sunjic back into their starting XI today. Otherwise, it's very much as you where from the visitors' perspective.

Klein, Niederlechner, Baumgartlinger, Vargas, Petkov, Hahn, Framberger, Zehntner

Gikiewicz - Bauer, Gouweleeuw (c), Gumny - Caligiuri, Maier, Gruezo, Rexhbecaj, Pedersen - Demirovic, Berisha

Ernst, Pekarik, Darida, Selke, Boëtius, Maolida, Mittlestädt, Richter, Dardai

Christensen - Kenny, Uremovic, Kempf, Plattenhardt (c) - Sunjic, Tousart, Serdar - Lukebakio, Kanga, Ejuke

Hertha boss Sandro Schwarz is still in search of his first win in the role after the club were also beaten by second division Eintracht Braunschweig in the DFB Cup this week. He's got a number of injury concerns for the trip to Augsburg but there is good news in the form of defender Filip Uremovic returning to the squad after serving a one-match ban.

Ruben Vargas missed the first two league games of 2022/23 with a muscular problem, but has been used as a second-half substitute in the last two and could partner Ermedin Demirovic in attack. New signing Mergim Berisha is also an option. Meanwhile, defenders Reece Oxford and Felix Uduokhai remain on the sidelines, while Freddy Jensen is touch and go having suffered a training-ground collision.

With the hosts on three points after one win and three losses, and the so far winless visitors on one, this has all the trappings of an early relegation six-pointer. Victory for the hosts would move them above RB Leipzig and into 11th, while defeat could potentially leave them in the relegation playoff place. As for the visitors, Hertha can leapfrog Augsburg if they pick up a first win of the campaign but defeat will leave them firmly in trouble in second from bottom. All the play for.

Hello and a very warm welcome to our live coverage of Augsburg vs. Hertha Berlin. The action will get underway at the WWK ARENA at 3.30pm CEST, with teams news dropping approximately an hour before that so set your alarms now!