Borussia Dortmund continues to hope for the timely recovery of captain Marco Reus and regular goalkeeper Gregor Kobel ahead of the derby against FC Schalke 04.

Both are still “questionable”, said coach Edin Terzic on Friday, one day before the match (Saturday, 6.30 pm/Sky). It will be assessed in the short term whether Reus, who has a cold, and Kobel, who has been absent recently due to muscular problems, will be able to play in Gelsenkirchen. Terzic will definitely have to do without Julian Brandt, who has been outstanding in recent weeks, and his offensive colleagues Karim Adeyemi and Youssoufa Moukoko.

Despite the defeat at Chelsea FC on Tuesday, which came with a Champions League exit, Terzic is looking forward to the showdown between the two arch-rivals. “A derby always comes at the right time. It’s not just us who look forward to it, the whole region looks forward to it,” he said.

Also with regard to the concern about riots around the match, the 40-year-old said: “We hope that it will go off without violence.” In sporting terms, he said his team would “do everything to return to Dortmund as winners” in the 100th match between Schalke and BVB in the Bundesliga.

The role of favourites is clearly assigned to the guests. Borussia is second in the table, level on points with leaders FC Bayern Munich. Schalke is in a relegation spot.