Unbeaten Hertha visit Kaiserslautern's stingy defence in 2. Bundesliga top clash

Kaiserslautern host Hertha Berlin at the Fritz-Walter-Stadion at 1 p.m. on Saturday in the standout game of the 10th round of Germany's second division. Hertha lead the table with 25 points and are unbeaten this season. Kaiserslautern began the round in third place on 18 points, seven behind the leaders. Both sides won their German Cup ties away from home 2-0 in midweek to reach the round of 16.

The game pits two of the league's tightest defences against each other. Kaiserslautern have conceded just four goals and none at home this season, according to the club, and goalkeeper Julian Krahl has gone 487 minutes without being beaten. Hertha have conceded eight and boast the league's top scorer by goal involvements in Josip Brekalo, who has five goals and five assists.

"On this matchday it is the top game, full stop," Hertha coach Stefan Leitl told a news conference on Thursday. He described Kaiserslautern as "a team that is very hard to play against" and called Krahl one of the best goalkeepers in the league. Leitl promised his side would bring "intensity and discipline," adding: "We're going there to win." Around 5,000 Hertha fans are expected at the Betzenberg, the club said.