Only Bayern Munich's Oliver Khan, who announced his international retirement after Germany's third place finish on home soil, and injured duo Per Mertesacker and Robert Huth have been left out from last month's World Cup 23.

Instead, MSV Mainz defender Manuel Friedrich has been drafted in. He was part of the pre-World Cup squad but did not make the final cut.

"The injuries (to Mertesacker and Huth) have given him a new chance, he did very well last season and only narrowly missed out on making the final 23," said Low of Friedrich.

The coach is not expecting much from his side, many of whom have only recently returned to training after their World Cup exploits.

"You have to be realistic at this stage of the season. We know full well the players are not on top form.

"For this reason, I consider this match against Sweden as merely a training exercise before the beginning of our European Championships 2008 qualification campaign."

Recent history favours Germany who knocked the Swedes out of the World Cup in the second round. Next month they start their Group D qualifiers with a match against Ireland in Stuttgart.

SQUAD
Goalkeeper: Jens Lehmann (Arsenal/ENG), Timo Hildebrand (Stuttgart)

Defenders: Arne Friedrich (Hertha Berlin), Manuel Friedrich (FSV Mainz), Marcell Jansen (Bor. Monchengladbach), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Christoph Metzelder (Bor. Dortmund), Jens Nowotny (Dinamo Zagreb/CRO)

Midfielders: Sebastian Kehl (Bor. Dortmund), Michael Ballack (Chelsea/ENG), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Tim Borowski (Werder Bremen), Torsten Frings (Werder Bremen), Bernd Schneider (Bayer Leverkusen), David Odonkor (Bor. Dortmund), Thomas Hitzlsperger (VfB Stuttgart)

Strikers: Gerald Asamoah (Schalke 04), Mike Hanke (VfL Wolfsburg), Miroslav Klose (Werder Bremen), Lukas Podolski (Bayern Munich), Oliver Neuville (Bor. Monchengladbach)