Bayern Munich hope to make a big step towards a fourth consecutive Bundesliga title when they host Schalke on Saturday, coach Pep Guardiola has said.
"If we win this match, we have our hands on the title," he told his prematch news conference.
Last weekend, Bayern extended their league at the top of Bundesliga to seven points when Borussia Dortmund were held to a draw at Schalke.
The Royal Blues on Saturday will visit the Allianz Arena, and, with only 15 points left in the pot this term, Bayern can make a major step toward the Bundesliga title.
"We need two wins and one draw," Guardiola said. "A dream goal of mine is that fourth consecutive title."
No team in the history of Bundesliga has ever achieved that feat, and Guardiola wants to put his name into the league's record book before leaving for Manchester City in the summer.
"If we win this match, we have our hands on the title," he said. "But the players have to know that we have are not German champions yet. But if we win tomorrow..."
He added that he means to convey this idea to his players.
"I am a good coach," he said. "It's my job to do that, and I have got many ideas on the back of my mind."
Schalke coach Andre Breitenreiter understands his side won't be favoured to defeat Bayern, but he is still hoping for an upset.
"We are absolutely the underdogs," Breitenreiter told his prematch news conference. "Nevertheless, we are heading to Munich in good spirits and want to get a positive result."
The Royal Blues are one of five Bundesliga teams competing for the final two German Champions League berths. Schalke are seventh, but going into the last five matches they only trail third-placed Hertha Berlin by four points.
Coming out of a 2-2 draw with Borussia Dortmund last week, Schalke have to travel to Bayern on Saturday before hosting fourth-placed Leverkusen the following week.
Although Schalke are the only Bundesliga club to have scored a goal against Bayern in all of their past four matches, they have not recorded a Bundesliga win at the Allianz Arena in seven years, and last won a league match against the Bavarians in December 2010.
"If we go into the game with the attitude of just wanting to hide, then we have no chance," Breitenreiter said.
Just like in the draw with local rivals Borussia Dortmund, Breitenreiter could again start with a three at the back, which turns into a five-man defensive line when defending.
"That's an option," he said. "It's a good formation because it's very variable. It's easier to defender the attacks of the many offensive players of the opponent, and you avoid that the strong dribblers on the flanks easily get into one-on-one situations."
However, Breitenreiter added the formation made it more difficult to "build up pressure higher up the field to keep the opponent away from the goal."
Regardless of the formation, Breitenreiter knows that Schalke will have to do the most with the little possession of the ball they will have at the Allianz Arena.
"You have to get the maximum out of it," he said. "We need to try to get behind the line and make use of the space we get there."