Reigning champions Bayern currently lie fourth in the table, three points behind leaders Schalke 04, but are confident of claiming top spot in the remaining three games before the six-week winter break.

"Due to the difficult circumstances before the season (tired players after the World Cup) I expected us to be catching the field up in the second half of the season," Kahn said in bi-weekly magazine Sport Bild.

"However now I would go as far as saying that we will be winter champions. With two matches at home and one away that is realistic."

Bayern host struggling Borussia Monchengladbach, fourth from bottom of the table, on Saturday with Gladbach coach Juup Heynckes, who won the German title as Bayern coach in 1989 and 1990, hoping to get one over on his old club.

"We need to try and get something in Munich," said Heynckes. "We can not rely on getting the points we need against Mainz or Bochum."

While Bayern are bullish about their chances Schalke's German international striker Gerald Asamoah believes the league leaders are on par with the team that has won six out of the last eight championships.

"The table shows that the quality in our squad is as good as Bayern's," said Asamoah.

Schalke hope to extend their unbeaten away record on Sunday when they travel to FC Nuremberg.

"I just want Schalke to be champions because the club deserves it. Whether I am in charge or not is secondary," declared Schalke coach Mirko Slomka.

Werder Bremen, two points behind Schalke, entertain fifth-placed Hertha Berlin on Saturday trying to keep their focus on domestic football with a massive European game on the horizon.

Bremen travel to Barcelona on Tuesday and need a point in the Nou Camp to reach the last 16 of the Champions League at the expense of the Spanish holders.

"I am not being pessimistic but I know we are still the outsiders," said Bremen midfielder Torsten Frings. "There are easier tasks than trying to get a point in the Nou Camp."

For third-placed VfB Stuttgart, two points behind Schalke, the league is the only focus and Armin Veh's side travel to bottom side Mainz 05 on Friday.

Mainz have just nine points from 14 matches but manager Jurgen Klopp has vowed to fight on.

"There is a long way to go before I even consider quitting," said Klopp

Stuttgart have been the surprise package this season and former coach Felix Magath, now in charge of Bayern, believes they are not just a flash in the pan.

"I expect the four teams to be up there for the remainder of the season," Magath said. "The only real surprise for me is Stuttgart who have come in with a new young team. You can expect them to get stronger."
Fixtures
Saturday
Bayern Munich v Borussia Monchengladbach, Werder Bremen v Hertha Berlin, Borussia Dortmund v VfL Wolfsburg, Arminia Bielefeld v Bayer Leverkusen, VfL Bochum v SV Hamburg, Energie Cottbus v Hanover
Sunday
FC Nuremberg v Schalke 04, Alemannia Aachen v Eintracht Frankfurt