his weekend sees the first of three consecutive matchdays which could go a long way in determining who will be crowned champions of Germany this season.

The top three meet each other over the coming three weekends, starting with second-placed Schalke's clash with third-placed Bayer Leverkusen this Saturday.

Next weekend, Schalke play host to the league leaders Bayern Munich before, to round things off seven days later, Bayern travel to Leverkusen in what becomes a mini-league where the champion will find themselves in pole position for silverware this season.

Schalke and Bayern played the prelude to this tour de force in the DFB-Pokal last night with the Bavarians needing a wonder goal in extra time from Arjen Robben to decide the tie, but Schalke manager Felix Magath was nevertheless happy with what he saw from his side.

"We have just missed a place in the final after a very good performance," he summarised.

"That can happen against a team who wants to win the Champions League. I am very happy with my team and now we have to ensure we pick up points against Leverkusen in the league on Saturday."

Bayern will be rooting for either a home win or a draw to enable them to establish a three-point cushion at the top of the table should they emerge victorious this weekend.

However, they don't have an easy task on their hands either as in-form Stuttgart pay a visit to the Allianz Arena.

That fixture pits the most successful team in 2010 so far against the second-best with Stuttgart coach Christian Gross looking to continue his side's push for a place in Europe next season.

The one club who could benefit over the next three weeks are Borussia Dortmund, who currently lie fourth, just eight points from the summit.

With the top three guaranteed to drop points in the next three games, they therefore have the chance to close in on them, starting at relegation-threatened Hertha Berlin this Saturday.

"We have to try and win all of our remaining games, and then we will become champions of Germany," said their confident captain Sebastian Kehl last weekend.

Realistically, though, they are fighting to hold off Werder Bremen and Hamburg in the race for a place in the Europa League next season.

Bremen host Nurnberg while Hamburg travel to Borussia Monchengladbach on Sunday.

With Bremen set be awarded a place in Europe by virtue of reaching the DFB-Pokal final, where they will meet Bayern, that means sixth position in the Bundesliga should now be good enough for a place in Europe next season.

Stuttgart, Frankfurt and Mainz therefore still have a lot to play for, as do defending champions Wolfsburg.

And Mainz host the Wolves this Saturday in a game which will either make or break their hopes of catching sixth-placed Hamburg.

Frankfurt travel to Bochum in the first fixture of the weekend on Friday night.

Elsewhere, the focus turns to the bottom of the table where Hannover can drag Cologne into danger with a win at the Niedersachsen Stadion.

Hoffenheim also risk being pulled towards the bottom three if they fail to beat Freiburg on Sunday.