SV Sandhausen will host MSV Duisburg on Saturday. Coach Jens Keller talks about his staff and the Zebras.

MSV Duisburg will be aiming for their first away win of the season at SV Sandhausen on Saturday (2 p.m., RS live ticker).

Which could play into the hands of the offensively harmless Zebras: The team relegated from the second division is plagued by personnel problems and has to cope with painful absences, especially in defense.

“We’re on our last legs in defense,” explained coach Jens Keller at the press conference on Thursday. Defenders Dennis Diekmeier, Tim Knipping and Lucas Laux are definitely out, while Max Geschwill is also unsteady due to swelling in his midfoot.

Sandhausen will also be without midfielders Alexander Fuchs and Joe-Joe Richardson. New summer signing Richardson, who has not yet played a major role, will miss SVS for a long time. He suffered meniscus damage in training and will require surgery

Coach Keller has been in office for a month. “I’m very happy because the team is doing well and implementing things. It’s a process,” is the 52-year-old’s interim assessment. “I have the feeling from week to week that things are going more smoothly.”

Excluding the loss in the DFB Cup against Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen, Keller is still unbeaten. There have been two draws and one win in the league, while Sandhausen also defeated league rivals Waldhof Mannheim 4:1 in the Association Cup during the international break