Hamburg are level on 51 points with Bayer Leverkusen, Wolfsburg and Stuttgart with only two places in Europe next season, the third qualifying for the Intertoto Cup and the fourth missing out completely.

On paper, HSV are best placed to snatch a European spot, seeing as they play a home game against a side from mid-table while they also enjoy a better goal difference than rivals Wolfsburg.

However, reports of a rift between players and coach have overshadowed preparations for what will be the Dutch coach's last game in charge before he leaves to take over at PSV Eindhoven and be nearer to his ill wife in Holland.

Now Stevens, whose replacement - former Tottenham boss Martin Jol - was revealed this week, has called on his players to put their personal feelings to one side and "win for the club and the fans".

"The team does not have to win for me," he said.

"They have to win for the club and the fans because they have always backed us and have deserved it.

"And I think the players want to play in Europe too."

His opposite number, Edmund Becker, is just happy that his side will be playing in the Bundesliga again next season.

Karlsruhe are set to finish the season higher than any other club coming from the second division since Kaiserslautern won the title in 1997.

With nothing left to play for Becker's target for the match is simple.

"Our aim now is to play one more decent game," he said.