Six key battles for DFB Pokal final: Borussia Dortmund v Wolfsburg

What we have here in the engine room clash is two players that have been trying to rebuild their careers this season. Japan ace Kagawa returned to Dortmund after a troubled spell at Manchester United, while Brazil destroyer Gustavo came back from the World Cup on home soil with his reputation in ruins.

Neither became bad players overnight, and a platform like this will come as a much-needed tonic for both. While Kagawa’s seasonal tallies of six goals and nine assists are rather dwarfed by De Bruyne’s, punters cannot count him out at 11/4 in the anytime market.

It’s been an injury-hit campaign for one of Dortmund’s prized assets Reus, but he’s still managed to get into double figures (11) for goals. This head-to-head with Wolfsburg’s forward-thinking left back Rodriguez, who represents Switzerland at international level, may not be a direct one, but both offer something different in wide areas.

Reus is like his name suggests, a silky Rolls Royce type of footballer, and thus features in an alternative wincast at 7/2 (again max stake of £20). Rodriguez, meanwhile, who is expected to shrug off a back problem to play has amazingly scored just one goal less than the guileful German forward, and is Die Wolfe’s designated penalty-taker, so consider him as an 11/2 anytime chance.

These two will be getting one another in Euro 2016 qualifying with Poland and Germany both in Group D. Piszczek, like Reus above, has endured a frustrating season because of injuries, but will relish being up against impact sub Schurrle.

Another Chelsea old boy, Schurrle just adds another dimension with his running when coming on and is 11/4 anytime market. Whether he can displace other Wolfsburg widemen Araon Hunt and Ivan Perisic from Dieter Hecking’s starting XI remains to be seen.

What a contrast we have here; Dortmund defender Hummels being another of those World Cup winners up against Dutch and Die Wolfe frontman Dost, whose own international career is in its infancy.

Looking at previous meetings, Hummels has largely kept the Netherlands new boy up front in his pocket. Dost’s one goal in three career starts against Dortmund suggests he might struggle in this big match, but he is rated Wolfsburg’s most likely scorer at 15/8 anytime.