Pauli won this season’s first derby 3-2 but HSV have got their revenge with a 2-1 victory of their own at home. It also has huge repercussions across Bundesliga 2 with the Red Shorts up to third and only three points off leaders Pauli. Up to four teams could leapfrog HSV as the matchday goes on, but the Boys in Brown will be looking more nervously over their shoulder with Darmstadt now able to take first place from them with a point at Ingolstadt tomorrow.

FIVE minutes of it at the end of this tight second city derby.

When Pauli were in front, they were going nine points clear of HSV. As it stands, HSV are third and only three off their city rivals, who are winless in three even before today's game.

Both teams have scored from headers today, meaning they both Hamburg clubs have eight headed goals each this season.

There's another check going on for a potential Pauli penalty after Ohlsson and Alidou came together in the box, but referee Stegemann isn't called to take a look.

The teams are out at the Volksparkstadion with kick-off minutes away.

A key figure in HSV's midweek, DFB Cup, penalty shootout win against Cologne, goalkeeper, Daniel Heuer Fernandes, is excelling in his return to action following a knee injury that kept the custodian sidelined for over two months. Keen to get his hands working in one more Stadtderby, the former Portugal U21 international said if today's encounter, "This is a game with explosive possibilities. Our style of play is to always be brave. If we perform as we can, we can win."

Pauli's 32-year-old sharpshooter, Guido Burgstaller, has been flourishing this season for the Boys in Brown, scoring 14 goals and providing four assists during a campaign in which he has been ever present. The ex-Austria international will no doubt play an important role in today's derby, and he recently summed up why things are working so well for he and his teammates in 2021/22. "We have a great spirit in the team in which everyone works for one another and supports one another," the striker told Austrian site ligaportal.at. "A success like the (DFB Cup) one against Dortmund would not have been possible without that."

Meanwhile, St. Pauli boss, Timo Schultz, is also leading a group of players into today's second-city derby high on morale after their incredible 2-1 cup success against Borussia Dortmund last Tuesday. "With a win in the bag, everything seems easier and you recover a bit faster," Schultz said of his players' efforts to be in top condition today. In terms of how the Kiezkicker's will approach their trip to the Volksparkstadion, the visiting tactician said, "We're not the kind of team to sit back and wait and hope something comes our way. We want to be active – both on and off the ball – and that's how we aim to play."

Hamburg coach, Tim Walter, said his players had gotten extra-time and penalties out of their legs following their famous midweek DFB Cup triumph against Bundesliga side Cologne and were fully ready for today's derby. "We definitely have the energy for it," the 46-year-old insisted. "The will, readiness and courage for this special game are 100% there; the boys just have to let it out on the pitch." the tactician continued, adding, "Games like the one in Cologne on Tuesday, or now the derby, are exactly what you can't get enough of as a footballer."

Timo Schultz also makes just the one personnel change from what Pauli will argue was an even bigger cup coup after knocking out holders Dortmund. That sees first-choice goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj return for Dennis Smarsch. Otherwise it’s the same 10 outfield players, with James Lawrence again captaining the side.

Tim Walter makes just one change from the side that beat Cologne on penalties in the DFB Cup during the week, with Bakery Jatta coming in for Manuel Wintzheimer.

Smarsch, Ziereis, Beifus, Ritzka, Dzwigala, Dittgen, Daschner, Benatelli, Makienok

Vasilj - Ohlsson, Lawrence (c), Medic, Paqarada - Irvine, Smith, Becker - Hartel - Amenyido, Burgstaller

Johansson, Gyamerah, David, Andresen, Kinsombi, Krahn, Kaufmann, Wintzheimer, Meißner

Heuer Fernandes - Heyer, Vuskovic, Schonlau (c), Muheim - Reis, Meffert - Jatta, Kittel, Alidou - Glatzel

Welcome along to what promises to be a scintillating Stadtderby, with Hamburg and St. Pauli all set to provide plenty of drama and excitement as the race for Bundesliga promotion hots up. Both of these teams pulled off huge midweek DFB Cup wins to advance to the tournament's quarter-finals, so expect soaring confidence to mark the opening to the 107th meeting between the sides.