Joachim Low's side lead the third-placed Irish by eight points and a win would extend their lead at the top of the group to five points, with closest challengers Czech Republic not in action at the weekend.

Germany will be without injured midfielders Michael Ballack, Thomas Hitzlsperger and Tim Borowski, but Torsten Frings claims, even though a draw would guarantee qualification, they will be going all out for the victory.

He told Die Welt newspaper: "We don't have a second or a third-choice team and we will go out in Ireland to show we definitely want to win."

Steve Staunton's men also have injury problems, with Stephen Elliot, Stephen Carr, Andy O'Brien and Stephen Ireland, who has asked to be left out, all missing.

Elsewhere, Slovakia will be looking to bounce back from their recent 5-2 humiliation by Wales in their Euro 2008 Group D qualifier against San Marino in Bratislava on Saturday.

That defeat ended their faint hopes of reaching the finals in Austria and Switzerland, leaving them 10 points behind second-placed Czech Republic with only three games left to play.

And they will have to do without the man who scored both goals in the Wales defeat, the injured Marek Mintal, with Filip Sebo set to replace him.

Coach Jan Kocian knows nothing less than a win will do, but stressed, despite having lost every qualifier so far, San Marino are no pushovers.

He told www.profutbal.sk: "There is no question our target in the game against San Marino is a win.

"We have to do everything to win on Saturday. On the other hand, I have to say San Marino are not easy opponents.

"For example, Czech Republic only won there 3-0 thanks to two goals in the closing minutes and a red card for one of the host's players.

"We have to be ready for a tough opponent which will concentrate on defending probably with five players."

Wales have been boosted by the news Craig Bellamy is fit to face Cyprus after groin surgery, but Jason Koumas and goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey is out.

The hosts welcome back Marinos Satsias, Michael Morfis and Costas Charalampides after injury.

On Wednesday, San Marino host Wales, Ireland take on Cyprus, and Czech Republic travel to Germany.