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Kaiserslautern will not go down to the second division without a fight, according to their defender Florian Dick.

The Red Devils have not won since October and the arrival of new coach Krassimir Balakov has failed to herald a change in fortunes, with two Bundesliga defeats in a row since he arrived.

But, even though the distance to safety is now 10 points, Dick and his team-mates remain optimistic as they prepare to face Hoffenheim at the Betzenberg.

"Of course we are realistic and we can read the league table, but we still want to prove to our fans and to ourselves that we can still win games," he said. "And prove that we have not given up.

"We are always having to find explanations for why we are unable to win and of course that frustrates us and we want to change that at all costs."

Only a run of at least five wins from their last six games would give Kaiserslautern any realistic hope of avoiding the drop, but Dick says they will take each game as it comes.

"We would have nothing against doing that, but we are only concentrating fully on Hoffenheim," he said at a press conference.

"I just want to win this game and I will think about what comes later afterwards."

Hoffenheim coach Markus Babbel is looking further ahead than Saturday, on the other hand, and, with his side's Bundesliga future secured, he is already planning next season.

"I am not only talking to the players about our next games, I am talking to them about the coming season and their prospects within the club," he said on his club's website.

"Those talks are already under way. I have already given thought to who I want in my squad next season so that I am not jumping in at the deep end.

"We are currently talking to the players about their future and I cannot rule anything out right now.

"There are still a few questions left unanswered because we have a large squad, but maybe in the end not much happens. "We have quality in our side - there is no doubt about that."

And he can display all of that quality on Saturday since he has no new injuries while Kaiserslautern are only without striker Sandro Wagner, who picked up a knock in training.