Stuttgart, ninth last season, have amassed 24 points from their first 12 matches to lead the standings for the first time since October 2004 but their resolve will be put to the test with a trip to reigning champions Bayern.

Coach Armin Veh has urged supporters not to start dreaming of a first title since 1992.

"We can not make the mistake of getting distracted by targets," Veh explained. "Our aim to play football with passion and the team are doing that well."

Magath was a hero after guiding Stuttgart into the Champions League with second place in 2003 but he left for Bayern the following season and is now the villain.

Bayern trail Stuttgart by four points in the league so Magath will hope to get one over on his old club although the wily coach believes Werder Bremen are the biggest title threat.

"It looked like we could be nine points behind Bremen at one stage and now we are just three," Magath said.

"We knew it would be a difficult season and it really has been. Now we just need to try and be at the top going into the winter break."

Four defeats have left Bayern off the pace but the they have five games to secure top spot before the six-week winter break.

Bremen, one point behind leaders Stuttgart, suffered a major setback with a 3-1 defeat against Borussia Dortmund last time out and hope to get back on track in Saturday's away match at Alemannia Aachen.

"We lost against Dortmund but what should we do -- get out our handkerchieves and start crying?" said Bremen midfielder Torsten Frings. "We are a good team and need to show that again."

While Bayern and Bremen have the additional burden of the Champions League and the cup, title hopefuls Schalke 04 just have the league to concentrate on and have crept into third one point behind Stuttgart.

Schalke crushed Mainz 05 4-0 in their last outing and are full of confidence heading into Saturday's match at promoted Energie Cottbus.

Elsewhere fourth from bottom SV Hamburg travel to Mainz with manager Thomas Doll's job again on the line.

Hamburg boss Doll has won just one of his 12 matches this season and a loss against bottom side Mainz would crank up the pressure.
Fixtures
Saturday
Bayern Munich v VfB Stuttgart, Borussia Dortmund v Hertha Berlin, FC Nuremberg v Bayer Leverkusen, Mainz 05 v SV Hamburg, Alemannia Aachen v Werder Bremen, Energie Cottbus v Schalke 04
Sunday
Borussia Monchengladbach v Hannover, Arminia Bielefeld v VfL Wolfsburg