Hamburger SV's crucial Bundesliga 2 promotion push faces a significant hurdle this weekend as they head to Stuttgart shorthanded. Coach Merlin Polzin confirmed a double injury blow that will see two key pillars of his squad miss the vital away fixture.

Defensive linchpin Luka Vušković, who has been a rock at the back, is sidelined with a knee issue. His absence is compounded by the loss of midfield engine Albert Sambi Lokonga, who is struggling with a thigh problem. Polzin stated bluntly, "Luka took a knock to the knee and will miss Sunday’s game. Sambi has thigh problems and is also unavailable."

The injury list doesn't end there. HSV will also be without the suspended Miro Muheim, while Alexander Røssing-Lelesiit, Yussuf Poulsen, and Jean-Luc Dompé remain in the treatment room. A late fitness test awaits Bakery Jatta, but his return in time for the match is considered doubtful.

Facing a strong Stuttgart side, this cascade of absences will test HSV's squad depth and resilience. It's a scenario that demands others to step up, embodying the next-man-up mentality that defines teams in a grueling promotion race. For the fans, it's a tense reminder of how quickly fortunes can shift in football.