BERLIN: Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has admitted relations between his club and Bayern Munich are far from cordial as the Bundesliga rivals prepare to meet on Saturday in a dress rehearsal for the Champions League final.

With Bayern having already won the league and Dortmund second in the table, Saturday's match at Borussia's Signal Iduna Park stadium is no more than a warm-up for the Wembley final on May 25.

But relations between Germany's top two clubs are strained despite the promise of a first European Cup showpiece involving two German teams.

“I have always spoken with a lot of respect and admiration for Bayern. But that has cooled. There are a few irritations now,” said Watzke after Borussia beat Real Madrid 4-3 on aggregate in their Champions League semi-final to reach the final itself.

After news broke last Tuesday that 20-year-old Germany star Mario Goetze has actioned a release clause in his Borussia contract to join Bayern in July for a reported 37 million euros ($48.3m), there is little love lost between Dortmund and the Bavarians.

Watzke insisted there is no animosity between the clubs, but the Bayern delegation have not been invited as usual to dine with their Dortmund counterparts, and will be greeted “with a handshake”.

Certainly, Bayern have shown Dortmund little courtesy recently, especially since their 3-0 win at Barcelona on Wednesday gave them a 7-0 victory on aggregate in the other Champions League semi-final.

“We've got an easy away game on Saturday, so let rip. We're already German champions,” Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge told the team after the win in Barcelona as they prepare to face last season's domestic double winners.

Likewise, Bayern president Uli Hoeness stirred things up in February after Dortmund's 1-0 defeat in the German Cup quarter-final at Munich's Allianz Arena when he said: “The status quo in German football has clearly been restored”.

But Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp said his side are looking forward to Saturday's match.

“This won't be a character test, it's just a game we really, really want to play because we want to put on a great evening for our fans,” said the 45-year-old.

“The boys will run like hares.”

Dortmund will be without Goetze, who tore his left hamstring against Real on Tuesday, while Germany midfielder Sven Bender is out with damaged ankle ligaments.

Meanwhile, Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes said he will not be fielding his top side in Dortmund.

“I think both coaches will collect their flock together and see who has the gas, who has the energy. Because of that, Saturday's game has no significance,”said Heynckes.

Saturday's clash is certainly the battle of the Bundesliga giants. Dortmund have won all of their last six league games, and are one short of their own Bundesliga record, set in 2005, for the most consecutive league wins. Their current sequence is however bettered by Bayern, who have won 14 matches on the spin.

Munich have lost four and drawn one of their last five league games against Borussia but, with 84 points, the Bavarians have already set a new record for the most points in a Bundesliga season. Dortmund were the previous record holders after registering 81 points a year ago.

The top three places in the Bundesliga are virtually decided, with Bayer Leverkusen set to take the final automatic berth in next season's Champions League. Beneath them, however, Schalke still have work to do to make sure of finishing fourth as they prepare to go to Borussia Moenchengladbach on Friday.

While bottom side Greuther Fuerth have already been relegated, second-from-bottom Hoffenheim badly need a win at Werder Bremen, who themselves are just two points above the drop zone.

Likewise, 16th-placed Augsburg need three points at Freiburg on Sunday with their hosts eager to hold onto sixth place and a Europa League berth.

Fixtures (kick-off times 1330 GMT unless stated)

Friday Borussia M'gladbach v Schalke 04 (1830 GMT)

Saturday VfB Stuttgart v Greuther Fuerth, Hannover 96 v Mainz 05, Werder Bremen v Hoffenheim, Nuremberg v Bayer Leverkusen, Eintracht Frankfurt v Fortuna Duesseldorf, Borussia Dortmund v Bayern Munich (1630 GMT)

Sunday Freiburg v Augsburg (1330 GMT), Hamburg v VfL Wolfsburg (1530 GMT)