FC Copenhagen vs. Heidenheim preview: Team news and predicted lineups

Bundesliga strugglers FC Heidenheim continue their European campaign on Thursday when they travel to Denmark to take on FC Copenhagen in the UEFA Europa Conference League.

After finishing 16th in the league phase of the competition, Frank Schmidt's side will need to beat the Danish capital club over two play-off legs to book their place in the last 16.

At this stage, however, Heidenheim's main concern should be avoiding relegation from the Bundesliga, where they currently sit 16th after four successive league defeats.

With that in mind, it wouldn't be surprising to see head coach Frank Schmidt rotate his squad, with tricksters Paul Wanner and Leo Scienza among those who could come in after starting off the bench at the weekend.

FC Copenhagen, meanwhile, haven't played a competitive match since early December since the Danish Superliga has been on a winter break.

Most recently, the Danish capital club took on fellow Superliga side AGF in a friendly, leading 3-0 before eventually losing 4-3.

Diant Ramaj, who was recently signed on loan from Borussia Dortmund, started that game and could make his first competitive start for his new club on Thursday.

Copenhagen coach Jacob Neestrup will be without a total of eight players, with Kevin Diks suspended and Nicolai Boilesen, Roony Bardghji, Rasmus Falk, Oscar Buur, Oliver Højer, Lukas Lerager and Andreas Cornelius all injured.

Star winger Mohamed Elyounoussi is back in the squad, but is unlikely to start after a long spell on the sidelines.

For Heidenheim, Niklas Dorsch and Jonas Föhrenbach are out injured, while Paul Tschernuth, Stefan Schmitter and Bayern loanee Frans Krätzig are ineligible.

Click here to see our predicted FC Copenhagen vs. Heidenheim lineups.