Köln are potentially only one win off securing Bundesliga safett: Saturday away at Union Berlin proves to be one of two decisive games as it stands.

For their interim head coach, René Wagner, the board are planning

to keep him past the summer (Sky Germany) and into the next season should safety in the league be mathematically guaranteed.

To achieve this on this weekend, the Rhine side need St. Pauli to pick up a point or less against Mainz at home and they need to win themselves away at Union Berlin.

A draw would be enough on paper to get the Billy Goats through as well so long as St. Pauli lose due to Köln's superior goal difference.

However, this requires Wolfsburg to not win their tough game against Freiburg away from home on Sunday.

On Wagner as a coach, Köln sporting director Thomas Kessler said: “What we expected from him, René has been able to put in place. That is not easy in the environment around 1. FC Köln.”

Should Köln not win this weekend, they remain able to leave safety in their own hands with a home game against bottom Bundesliga side Heidenheim on matchday 33.