Bayern Munich have a growing injury list as they prepare for tomorrow's game at home to Duisburg and Ottmar Hitzfeld's main concern will be to see his side keep their concentration now the holidays are in sight.
Bayern are clinging to top spot in the Bundesliga by a single point after putting a sticky patch behind them with a couple of narrow wins over Wolfsburg and Arminia Bielefeld.
They have two more Bundesliga games before the long mid-season break, the second is away to Hertha Berlin a week tomorrow, and the target is two wins to ensure the honorary title of winter champions.
Halil Altintop will miss both after undergoing surgery on his knee this week, while Willy Sagnol and Bastian Schweinsteiger are injury doubts and Lucio remains suspended.
Still, Bayern will feel they have little to worry about given they have not lost at home to Duisburg in the league for 40 years.
Bayern also have a bit of UEFA Cup business to attend to, with a home match to come against Aris Salonika on December 19, but the club are clear where their priorities lie.
"The clear target this season is to win the championship again," manager Uli Hoeness said in a chat with fans on the club's website (www.fcbayern.de).
"After a poor season last time and with no other title, the league must be the priority this time."
Duisburg, second from bottom, hardly had the best preparation for the match, losing 3-0 at home to B. Moenchengladbach, of the second division, in a friendly this week.
Werder Bremen, who moved clear in second place with a win at home to Hamburg last weekend, will attempt to keep the pressure on Bayern when they travel to play Hanover 96 tomorrow.
The Werder Bremen injury crisis may ease for coach Thomas Schaaf, with Tim Borowski and Hugo Almeida back close to full fitness.
Hamburg, three points behind Werder and four behind Bayern in third place, should get back on track when they host bottom club Energie Cottbus.
Borussia Dortmund, who ended Stuttgart's four-match winning run in the league last weekend, play Arminia Bielefeld in the first game of the 16th round this evening.