Bundesliga and 2.Bundesliga in the kickoff order: Cory Gibbs: St Pauli hosts Frankfurt on Friday, 7 p.m. CET. Gibbs won’t be playing because of a bruised calf. Otherwise he’d be in the lineup, but St Pauli is still thinking about signing a defender. Jacob Thomas: same kickoff time for Braunschweig at Waldhof Mannheim. A real bottom derby, in case of a loss Braunschweig would be at least seven points behind a non-relegation rank. Many players are injured, Thomas is expected to start as right mid. Tony Sanneh: Saturday, at the usual kickoff time at 3.30 Nürnberg is guest in Bochum. Sanneh won’t be on the roster due to his missing training units. Kicker had a short article on him in the section “They are playing for their future”, saying: “The ado about the US national player is gone, the defender denied an offer of WBA on Wednesday. Perspective too bad or not enough money offered? No matter, without any doubt the model athlete with contract until 2004 is facing difficult months. Nürnberg’s top earner has to make up (?) for the missed pre-season and – much more difficult – convince the huge number of critics with constant performances. As Klaus Augenthaler: “Tony did not fulfil my demands yet”. Without any question, the expectation level for him is higher now.” Steve Cherundolo/Conor Casey: same kickoff time as Nürnberg. Hannover expects Hamburg at home. As Bobic will probably play despite of a slight injury, there is no space for Casey in the team. Cherundolo is seeded as secure as it is just possible – no player had more playing time in the pre-season and his only ‘rival’ is out for seven weeks with injury. Grover Gibson/Mike Duhaney: the soccer action in Mainz starts on Sunday, 3.00 against Union Berlin. Both could not play themselves into the team during the pre-season, so the main question is whether they make it to the bench unlike in the last games before the break. Gregg Berhalter: that’s a real winner of the pre-season. Cottbus travels to Leverkusen, kickoff Sunday, 5.30. Cottbus plays with a four men defence for the very first time in a league game. Berhalter is seeded as central defender, but has to play together with Brazilian Vragel da Silva, who replaces team captain Christian Beeck (injured) – problem for him that they tried this option always with central defenders Beeck/Berhalter.