This was the teams' first meeting in Bundesliga 2. Of the 67 previous encounters in the top flight, Schalke won 31 to Nuremberg's 20, with 16 draws.
Simon Terodde scored 11 times in the first nine games of the season, but just once since; his 154th Bundesliga 2 goal in the 1-1 draw with Werder Bremen on Matchday 14 set a new best mark in the division.
Bülter is the next most dangerous attacker for the Royal Blues, with six goals and three assists so far.
Möller Daehli (two goals, four assists) and Lino Tempelmann (three of each) are among the ones to watch for Nuremberg.
Der Club have only won away from home twice so far this season.
With seven clean sheets and just 16 goals conceded prior to this match, Nuremberg had the best defensive record in the division this season.

Line-ups

Schalke: Fraisl – Thiaw, Itakura, Kaminski – Ranftl, Zalazar (Aydin 90'+2), Palsson (c), Ouwejan – Idrizi (Flick 69') – Pieringer, Churlinov (Dadashov 89')
Unused subs: Wienand, Wouters, Matriciani, Rzatkowski, Mikhailov, Calhanoglu
Out: Bülter (hypertension), Langer (knee), Latza (knee), Rzatkoswki (infection), Sane (thigh), Terodde (calf)
Coach: Dimitrios Grammozis

Nuremberg: Mathenia - Valentini (c) (Köpke 77'), Schindler, Sörensen, Handwerker - Krauß (Duman 43'), Geis, Nürnberger - Möller Daehli (Dovedan 46') - Shuranov (Borkowski 70'), Schäffler
Unused subs: Klaus, Fischer, Suver, Rausch, Latteier
Out: Hübner (shoulder), Tempelmann (suspended)
Coach: Robert Klauß

Matchday 17 round-up:

Regensburg 2-3 Werder Bremen
Goals: 1-0 Breitkreuz (5’), 1-1 Bittencourt (39’), 1-2 Friedl (59’), 1-3 Ducksch (89’), 2-3 Singh (90’+2)

Werder Bremen came from behind to make it two wins from two under new head coach Ole Werner, keeping themselves in the hunt for the promotion places. Steve Breitkreuz put the hosts in front with an early header from a Sarpreet Singh corner, but Bremen hit back through Leo Bittencourt’s sublime volley before Marco Friedl gave them the lead on the rebound after another Bittencourt effort had been blocked. Marvin Ducksch made sure of the points as the final whistle approached, rendering Singh’s stoppage-time strike too little, too late for Regensburg.

Paderborn 0-1 Darmstadt
Goal: 0-1 Pfeiffer (81')

A late winner from Patric Pfeiffer at the Benteler Arena was enough to keep second-placed Darmstadt in touch with 2. Bundesliga leaders St. Pauli. With hosts Paderborn also keen to stay on the coat-tails of the division's promotion chasers, this was a game that promised high entertainment yet ultimately delivered few clear-cut chances. With both sides cancelling each other out for large parts, the contest's best chance fell to Pfeiffer with less than ten minutes to go, and the 22-year-old defender made no mistake, heading in from a corner to earn his side a valuable three points.

Karlsruher 3-2 Heidenheim
Goals: 0-1 Kleindienst (6'), 1-1 Batmaz (8'), 2-1 Batmaz (39'), 3-1 Wanitzek (pen. 56'), 3-2 Kleindienst (73')

A Malik Batmaz double and a second-half Marvin Wanitzek penalty helped hosts Karlsruher to bring Heidenheim's three-game winning run to an end and reduce the gap between the sides to three points in the standings. An exciting contest at the Wildparkstadion saw Tim Kleindienst and Batmaz exchange early goals but it was the home side who edged the contest thereafter. Batmaz put the finishing touches to an impressive Karlsruher counter-attack before the forward was forced off through injury. Wanitzek's 56th minute penalty put daylight between the teams but Kleindienst's second set up a nervy finish for the hosts.

Fortuna Düsseldorf 1-1 FC St. Pauli
Goals: 0-1 Hartel (47'), 1-1 Hennings (68')

Leaders St. Pauli were denied a fourth win in a row and a chance to increase their lead at the top of the standings after hosts Fortuna came back from a goal down to earn a draw. After an even first half, the game came to life after the restart and it was Timo Schultz's men who hit the front when Marcel Hartel thumped home Daniel-Kofi Kyereh's cross. St. Pauli looked to turn the screw thereafter but were left cursing their luck when the hosts equalised against the run of play in the 68th minute, Rouwen Hennings netting his first of the campaign after connecting with Emmanuel Iyoha's centre.

Watch: Highlights of Fortuna's draw with St. Pauli

S04 Schalke Schalke - FCN Nuremberg Nuremberg

Matchday 17 round-up: Schalke return to winning ways