Mainz coach Thomas Tuchel believes his side are back on track. The Bundesliga title contenders have suffered a spate of recent defeats.

Mainz won their first seven Bundesliga matches to equal a league record for consecutive victories, but they recently lost three in a row before returning to winning ways last weekend with a 3-2 success over Borussia Monchengladbach. Tuchel feels that win could be a turning point and his side can now put another winning streak together.

"You could see the spirit of our first games again," he said. "You were able to see a lot of the characteristics which made us what we were.

"My team not only has potential, but they also showed their true mentality. It's good that their excellent performance was rewarded with the result," said Tuchel.

Mainz can close the gap on league leaders Borussia Dortmund to five points with victory tomorrow, but Tuchel was quick to point out his side's aim for the season was never to challenge for the title.

"Just look at last season when we ended the season a club record ninth and we had nine wins after 25 matches," he said. "We are heading into the 14th match of the season and we already have nine wins. That is something we can be happy about."

Nurnberg coach Dieter Hecking also claimed Mainz should be proud of what they have already achieved. "Mainz are the positive surprise of the season. They can harm any opponent."

Nevertheless, the Nurnberg coach believes his side are good enough to win the game. "We will go into the game with the necessary optimism," said. "We know that we too are hard to beat."

Hecking must decide who will replace the suspended Javier Pinola tomorrow as the player who did so last weekend, Dario Vidosic, is ill. Only Bo Svensson is unavailable for the home team.