For the women's team of 1. FC Union Berlin, Sunday is derby day in the Regionalliga Nordost as they travel west to play FC Hertha 03 Zehlendorf. Kick-off at the Ernst-Reuter-Sportfeld is at 12:45.

The opponents

The future of Hertha 03 Zehlendorf's women's team is currently somewhat uncertain, for two reasons. Firstly, the side who only returned to the Regionalliga in the summer after an absense of 17 years, are facing a battle to stay in the league. With 19 points, they are in a healthy looking 9th place. However, since it is still unclear how many teams will be relegated from the Regionalliga Nordost, the team from southwest Berlin are still in the dark.

But added to this are the rumours swirling around suggesting that the women's team are on the verge of a cooperation with Hertha BSC. According to several reports, Hertha's plans to field a women's team for the coming seasonrevolve around the taking over of the women's department and the playing rights from Hertha 03 Zehlendorf.

Although the conditions are still being worked out, the takeover already seems to be in the bag. This could mean the first Hertha vs Union derby in women's football in the coming season, provided that both Union and Hertha 03 Zehlendorf remain in the Regionalliga.

This is far from impossible and Hertha 03 provided further proof of their own credentials just last weekend. Head coach Henrik Suttinger's team won 3:1 against Bischofswerdaer FV.

The head to head

When they met on Matchday 5 Union ran out clear winners, 9-0, Union's largest margin of victory so far this season. Captain, Lisa Heiseler, opened the scoring after just a few seconds and went on to score a hat-trick that day, as did striker Elisa Spolaczyk.

Overall, Union are still unbeaten against Hertha 03. In the three competitive matches they've played, they have won three times.

The coach's views ahead of the match

"Hertha 03 Zehlendorf are a young team that have visibly developed over the course of the season, as is evident from the results," said Union's head coach Ailien Poese on Thursday. "The narrow artificial pitch in Zehlendorf is a challenge, but we were able to master  ones like it well in the recent games in Leipzig and Babelsberg." 

The personnel

Luca Scheel, Pauline Wimmer and Hannah Kratz remain absent due to injury. Marie Becker and Lisa Heiseler are also in doubt.