Yesterday's 3-1 win at Energie Cottbus took the defending champions level on points with league leaders Wolfsburg with three games of the season remaining.

However, Heynckes, who took over from Jurgen Klinsmann two games ago with Bayern trailing Wolfsburg by three points, insists his aims have not altered.

"If you look at the league table then you can see that a win was immensely important," he said.

"Four or five teams are all packed tightly up there. Our aim of qualifying for the Champions League directly is still possible thanks to this victory.

"My team has also taken a step forward with its performance and played good football for long spells."

Heynckes is not the only one at Bayern pleading caution. Should Hamburg beat Werder Bremen today, there would be five clubs within just two points at the top of the table.

"We are well advised not to get carried away," said club chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

"We could become German champions, but we could also drop to fourth.

"It is certainly going to be one of the most exciting ends to a Bundesliga season in history."

The Bundesliga has made a habit of reserving the destination of the title for the final day of the season, and sometimes even the final few minutes.

This season, Bayern host Stuttgart on May 23 in what could be the title decider with both sides still in the race for glory.

"They have got a real run going," warned general manager Uli Hoeness. "We have to be particularly wary of Stuttgart.

"It is a four-team fight and will remain so to the very end."