"Our goal is the championship group"

Austria (6th) is currently four points ahead of LASK (10th). There are only four games left to play in the spring in the basic round. "The importance of the match is great for both teams. Our goal is to win the home game - then LASK should not be able to catch us in the basic round. We have a great chance to reach the championship group - the lads are one hundred percent convinced that they can keep up against any opponent," Manfred Schmid emphasized.

The Austria coach was only partially satisfied with the performance in the 1-1 draw in the Vienna derby the previous week: "We have to do a few things better against LASK than we did in the first half of the derby, the second half was a lot better," explains Schmid, who cites the last two home games against Sturm (2-1) and FC Red Bull Salzburg (0-1) as positive examples:

"I expect us to show one hundred percent commitment again and play courageously going forward. LASK has a very good team and will certainly try to put us under pressure early on. But we have also shown many times this fall that we are difficult to play against. The return of the fans is certainly an advantage for us. We've seen many times this season that the energy of the fans is transferred to the players," Manfred Schmid explained.

Personnel news

Markus Suttner (hip contusion) and Muharem Huskovic (muscle injury) are out on Sunday due to injury. Ziad El Sheiwi is not expected to be able to rejoin training until the summer preparation in June following his cruciate ligament tear:

"We wish Ziad all the best again on this way. He is a super footballer and a super guy. We will do everything we can to support him as best we can on his way so that he comes back stronger. The team wants to get the win against LASK for Ziad," says Manfred Schmid.