SV Sandhausen host MSV Duisburg on Saturday. Coach Jens Keller discusses his personnel and the Zebras.

SV Sandhausen is targeting MSV Duisburg’s first away win of the current season on Saturday (2 p.m., RS live ticker).

What could play into the hands of the zebras, who are harmless in offense, is that the second division relegated team is plagued by personnel problems and has to cope with painful absences in defense in particular.

“Defensively, we’re running on empty,” explained coach Jens Keller at Thursday’s press conference. Defenders Dennis Diekmeier, Tim Knipping and Lucas Laux are out for sure, while Max Geschwill is uncertain due to a swelling on his midfoot.

Sandhausen will also be without midfielders Alexander Fuchs and Joe-Joe Richardson. Summer signing Richardson, who has not yet played a major role, will be missing from SVS for a long time. He suffered a meniscus injury in training and will need surgery.

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

If you exclude the DFB Cup defeat to Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen, Keller is still unbeaten. There have been two draws and one win in the league, and during the international break Sandhausen also defeated league rivals Waldhof Mannheim 4-1 in the association cup.