Bayern Munich vs. Hoffenheim: How die Roten Should line up in Bundesliga game

Bayern Munich resume their Bundesliga campaign on Saturday as they take on Hoffenheim at the Allianz Arena. The German giants stand first in the league standings with 27 points from 11 games and having conceded just three goals, a record that has put them four points clear of Wolfsburg atop the table.

To their credit, Hoffe have also had a strong start to their campaign. The village side stand fifth, and although 10 points behind Bayern, have some serious weapons in their arsenal. Roberto Firmino has been on fire since the beginning of the 2013-14 season, scoring 27 and assisting 21 goals in his last 49 games (per Transfermarkt), while Kevin Volland has emerged as a candidate to succeed Miroslav Klose as Germany's main center-forward, a position he took in Tuesday's friendly with Spain.

As Saturday's match approaches, B/R takes a look at the Bayern lineup Pep Guardiola is most likely to select to take on Hoffenheim:

Goalkeeper: Manuel Neuer

Bayern fans breathed a collective sigh of relief on Wednesday when Manuel Neuer returned to training (per German source Spox). The Ballon d'Or nominee had suffered a knee injury that had kept him out of Germany's 1-0 win against Spain on Tuesday but should be fit to face Hoffe, some very encouraging news considering deputies Pepe Reina and Tom Starke are both out of contention to play with injuries of their own.

Center-Back: Jerome Boateng

Like Neuer, Jerome Boateng withdrew from the Germany squad ahead of their win against Spain, but can expect to be named in the starting lineup to face Hoffenheim. The 26-year-old has won more titles than any other fit Bayern center-back and has in recent years emerged as one of Europe's elite defenders.

Center-Back: Mehdi Benatia

It took some time for Mehdi Benatia to break into the Bayern starting lineup after his summer move from Roma, but the Moroccan has since formed a rock-solid partnership at the back with Boateng. And with Holger Badstuber sidelined until the New Year and Dante in poor form, Pep Guardiola really has little choice.

Center-Back: Sebastian Rode

Pep Guardiola faces a real quandary in deciding on his third center-back, a position in which he's consistently used a non-natural interior defender like David Alaba or Philipp Lahm. With both of the aforementioned injured, he may instead go with Sebastian Rode, a combative central midfielder by nature but one who played center-back for a spell during his time at Frankfurt. He's no Alaba, but the 24-year-old is a qualified player and can expect to start, either in defense or midfield.

Right-Wing-Back: Rafinha

Written off as a generally unneeded substitute during Jupp Heynckes' last season at Bayern, Rafinha was given a new lease on life at the Munich club following Guardiola's arrival last season. He's been used less in the current campaign, but with the current squad blighted by injuries, he should expect to play consistently in the coming weeks. It's possible that he may be used alongside Benatia and Boateng, but defending is not the strongest suit of the Brazilian, who is more comfortable going forward on the wing.

Central Midfield: Xabi Alonso

With Lahm, Alaba, Thiago Alcantara and Javi Martinez sidelined until well after the winter break, Xabi Alonso is unlikely to get much rest in the near future. The veteran, who celebrates his 33rd birthday on Tuesday, may be aging but has rolled back the years this season and will enter the game well-rested after the international break.

Central Midfield: Mario Gotze

The position of deputy to Lahm alongside Alonso is a real question mark in the Bayern team. It could go to Rode, but if the ex-Frankfurt man is used on the back line, that is not possible. Another option is to go all-out in attack and use Mario Gotze in central midfield, a position he played on occasion early in his Dortmund career, with three other fully attacking players in front of him. Or Pierre Hojbjerg could be given the nod, although the Dane, having been used for just 259 minutes in all competitions (per Transfermarkt), suggests it's unlikely he is a significant part of Guardiola's plans.

Left-Wing-Back: Juan Bernat

This season, Juan Bernat has not missed a single game for Bayern. The 21-year-old has been named to the starting lineup in all but three games and can expect to once again be included in Guardiola's XI as an injury-ravaged Bayern prepare to face Hoffenheim. The new signing faced a real uphill struggle to find his way into an extremely competitive Bayern squad but by now has clearly won the trainer's trust. It would be a huge surprise if he weren't a part of the starting lineup to face Hoffenheim.

Right-Forward: Arjen Robben

Bayern have won every game in which Arjen Robben has played this season, which is just about as significant an endorsement as can be made for the 30-year-old attacker. The Dutchman carried his red-hot form into the international break, scoring and assisting two goals apiece for the Netherlands in matches against Latvia and Mexico. Although he's played many minutes as of late, there's a better chance of him being rested against relegation-battling Hertha next week than against a strong Hoffenheim side this Saturday.

Center-Forward: Robert Lewandowski

Among Bayern players, only Bernat has been used more often this season than Robert Lewandowski, who has missed just one game. The Poland international took some time to find his form and is still not yet at his very best, but he can expect to keep his starting spot with Bayern devoid of any other fit, natural strikers.

Left-Forward: Franck Ribery

If Gotze is used in midfield and Robben gets the nod on the right wing, Franck Ribery can expect to start on the left. The Frenchman has been used only sparingly this season due to injuries, but when he's played, he's been lethal and ruthlessly efficient. Thomas Muller is another in-form option, but the 25-year-old is weakest when used on the left wing. If he starts, he'll more likely have to displace another among his fellow forwards.

Follow Clark Whitney on Twitter