Schalke face Rapid Wien in the first test match of their preparation on Friday at 7pm. The big question: Who will play in central defence?

The FC Schalke 04 professionals have been in Vienna since Thursday afternoon.

Licence manager Gerald Asamoah spoke of a “nice trip” to the club media before the outward flight, referring not only to the team-building character for the team, but also to the fans, who had not been spoiled with trips abroad recently after several European Cup years.

On Friday evening, Schalke will play the first test match of their winter preparation at the traditional Austrian club Rapid Wien (7 p.m./live youtube.com/s04), where they will celebrate a reunion with ex-S04 goal-scorer Guido Burgstaller.

But who will the Schalkers be playing with in Vienna? Several professionals are missing, which is why six players from the U23 team were on the plane. Especially in the central defence Schalke has big problems. Chief defender Maya Yoshida is on special leave until 15 December after the World Cup trip with Japan. Sepp van den Berg and Leo Greiml are also not yet fit.

The same goes for Marcin Kaminski, who is training with the team again – but has only been doing so for a week. Kaminski had been out for months due to a cut that had become infected and had to be operated on. Now he is to be introduced slowly. It is not a setback, merely a precautionary measure. Kaminski is the farthest along of all the defenders, a comeback in sight.

But who will now defend for S04? Henning Matriciani is set in the defensive centre. Next to Matriciani, Timothée Kolodziejczak, whom Schalke signed in October, could start. Midfielder Alex Kral and the U23 players Verthomy Boboy and Julius Schell could also be considered for the position. Another alternative would have been Florian Flick, but the 22-year-old announced his temporary departure on Thursday. He is moving to second-division club 1. FC Nürnberg on loan until the end of the season.

One who is also not yet able to play is Rodrigo Zalazar. After a fractured metatarsal, a return to team training is not yet planned in the foreseeable future, but the popular playmaker gave fans hope via Instagram: He posted a picture during training on a treadmill.