German skipper Michael Ballack is officially fit and ready to help his country build on the promising start they made to the World Cup, as a win from Wednesday's Group A match against Poland will give them an earlier advancement to the knockout phrase.

"I am looking forward to the match on Wednesday, and our team is full of confidence and know what to expect," said the new Chelsea signing who has recovered from the calf strain that kept him out of Germany's 4-2 win against Costa Rica on Friday.

The hosts, who also showed in the tournament opener that they are going to struggle to keep clean sheets, now need just one more victory to ensure their berth to the last 16, while Poland's hope has been badly hit as they suffered a surprise 2-0 loss to Ecuador in their first game.

Ballack, who watched the match from the bench, warned his teammates to be expected a far tougher match from a desperate Poland side.

"Costa Rica let the German team play, sitting back and putting in few tackles. This will be a much hotter evening for us," he said.

"The situation is different as well. The Poles know it's a make or break game for them now. It's going to be tougher, much tougher."

Coach Juergen Klinsmann echoed his "Lokomotive" of the team, saying that the Poles have their backs to the wall.

"Polish players know their public are not happy and realise it is all or nothing. They will be fired up to do everything they canto stay in this tournament. It will be a heated encounter," he said.

Pawel Janas' troops were abysmal in their opener against Ecuador on Friday, and should they throw in another shocker against Jurgen Klinsmann's men they could be packing their bags with the tournament less than a week old.

The Poles simply have to go for it after their shocking capitulation in Gelsenkirchen, with striker Ebi Smolarek admitting his country's hopes of reaching the last 16 hinge on the clash.

But historically though their record against Germany has been woeful. Since the first meeting in 1933, Poland have failed to win any of their 14 encounters with Germany, losing ten and drawing four.

Also their failure to score against Ecuador means they have now failed to find the net in six of their last eight World Cup matches.

Star striker Maciej Zurawski will be out to prove a point after an insipid display in game one, and the Poles look certain to ditch their five-man midfield which left the Celtic forward so isolated and in favour of a tried and tested 4-4-2.

On the contrary Germany is regaining its spirit of a winner.

"We'll do everything within our power to win Poland, because thus we'll be able to rank for the next stage. In this way, I will give the chance to some of the major players to relax in the third match with Ecuador so that they can take part in the eliminations with a new strength," said Klinsmann.

"I hope our tradition of positive results continues on Wednesday, " he again stated at a pre-match press conference Tuesday in Berlin.