Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich are aiming for a domestic double when they meet arch-rivals Borussia Dortmund in the German Cup final on Saturday.
Bayern boss Pep Guardiola has dropped striker Mario Mandzukic and is without midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger.
“Basti is injured, a problem with his knee. Mandzukic is my decision,” said the ex-Barcelona coach.
Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski, who joins Bayern next month, is set to play after shaking off a calf problem.
Jurgen Klopp’s side finished 19 points adrift of Bayern in the league, but can end their season on a positive note by beating Guardiola’s team in Berlin’s Olympic Stadium.
However, 16-time winners Bayern are the clear favourites to retain the trophy which they won against Stuttgart last year.
Germany international Schweinsteiger is missing after straining a tendon in his left knee during last Saturday’s 1-0 Bundesliga win over Stuttgart.
Guardiola said he hoped the 29-year-old would recover in time for this summer’s World Cup finals, but added: “I’m not a doctor.”
Top scorer Mandzukic, who has netted 21 goals this season, did not travel to Berlin despite being fit to play, increasing speculation that the Croatia international will leave the Allianz Arena this summer.
“This was my decision. He was fit, he could play but we have 18 players and I will play with them,” said Guardiola. “It is my decision.”
Mandzukic’s position is under threat from the impending arrival of Poland international Lewandowski, who missed part of Dortmund’s training session on Thursday as a precaution.
But the 25-year-old is expected to be fit enough to play against his future employers.
“We were very careful with him,” said Klopp, who was speaking in a joint news conference alongside Bayern counterpart Guardiola.
Klopp watched his team lose in last season’s Champions League final against Bayern, but they have held the upper hand in the meetings between the two sides since.
Dortmund won the German Super Cup in August before the pair traded 3-0 away wins in the Bundesliga.
“This to me is the biggest final you can play,” added Klopp. “You have to beat Bayern either en route or in the final. It is unlikely that someone else will beat them for you.”
BBC SPORT
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