Sunday's 2. Bundesliga schedule may well go a long way to deciding the fate of the title and promotion this season as the top two face off in Hamburg.
HSV come into the game off the back of a 2-2 draw away to Greuther Furth last weekend as football returned in Germany, after conceding in stoppage time.
The point was enough to move them into the second automatic promotion place, though, ahead of Stuttgart on goal difference.
They remain seven adrift of their opponents this weekend, who were also denied a win in stoppage time at home to Osnabruck.
Arminia Bielefeld are unbeaten in eight matches, however, as they have mounted shock promotion push.
The reverse fixture between the two sides in October finished in a 1-1 draw and it will likely be tight again this weekend.
Team news
Dieter Hecking will be without a handful of players for the clash, including Julian Pollersbeck (ankle) and Ewerton (knee).
Meanwhile, Nils Quaschner (knee) is the only absentee for the visitors.
Predicted line-ups
Hamburger SV (4-3-3) Fernandes - Beyer, Letschert, van Drongelen, Leibold - Schaub, Fein, Dudziak - Jatta, Hinterseer, Kittel
Arminia Bielefeld (4-1-4-1) Moreno - Clauss, Pieper, Nilsson, Hartherz - Prietl - Edmundsson, Yabo, Hartel, Voglsammer - Klos
Key Clash
Rick van Drongelen vs Fabian Klos
Dutch centre back Rick van Drongelen put in a shaky performance off the bench last weekend and it was his weak clearance that led to the late equaliser HSV conceded.
In contrast, Fabian Klos is the league's top scorer with 17 goals and scored in the reverse fixture.
Van Drongelen could have his work cut out against the Bielefeld frontman this weekend.
What they have said
Dieter Hecking, Hamburger SV manager: "I don't think there's a real favourite for the game. Arminia have been very consistent since Christmas and ourselves and VfB haven't. But this is our chance to catch up."