Schalke's new captain Benedikt Howedes says his predecessor Manuel Neuer deserves a warm welcome from the Royal Blues' fans when he arrives at the Arena AufSchalke with his new club Bayern Munich this Sunday.
Neuer, who was born in Gelsenkirchen and grew up watching from the terraces at the club's former Park Stadion, made a controversial switch to the Bavarians in the summer.
He returns to the Arena for the first time this weekend and Howedes hopes he is given the reception he deserves, even though he knows it is unlikely.
"I think he is going to have to expect some whistles and he knows that, but I still believe that Manuel does not deserve any animosity," he told Kicker magazine.
"He always performed really well, if not sensationally for us."
And Howedes does not expect his side to gain any advantage if the fans do jeer Neuer each time he touches the ball.
"Manuel will not lose his concentration," he predicted. "He has always made great saves when he is under particular pressure."
Sunday's encounter is the highlight of this weekend's Bundesliga program, which starts off with a Baden-Wurttemberg derby in Freiburg.
They host Stuttgart, who would move up to third in the table with three points.
Werder Bremen can move to the top of the pile on Saturday when they travel to in-form Nurnberg, who have won their last two matches, while Borussia Monchengladbach also have the chance to reach the summit with a win at crisis club Hamburg, who have yet to win all season.
Augsburg has yet to win a single game in the Bundesliga since their promotion to the top flight and they will hope to break their duck with a trip to the capital on Saturday.
However, they meet a Hertha Berlin side who are full of confidence after beating defending champions Borussia Dortmund last weekend.
Dortmund, meanwhile, are not in action until Sunday when they travel to Hannover.
Elsewhere, Hoffenheim host Wolfsburg and Kaiserslautern entertain Mainz in one of three derbies this weekend.
The other takes place at the BayArena, where Bayer Leverkusen lock horns with Cologne.
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