The upstarts meet the aristocrats in the Bundesliga this weekend as Hoffenheim go to Bayern Munich.
Ralf Rangnick's men have been the surprise package in Germany's top flight this season and currently lead the table by three points from Bayern.
There is no bigger test than a trip to the Allianz Arena but Rangnick is confident his team can spring a surprise providing they "play to their limit".
He added: "We don't have the ambition to be on the same level with Bayern. If the season runs normally, Bayern will be the champion.
"But not every season runs normally and we've shown several times already that we can surprise."
Bayern go into the game as overwhelming favourites but coach Jurgen Klinsmann was quick to talk down his side's chances.
"It's going to be a very difficult game against a team that plays very well as a unit," Klinsmann said.
"For us, it's a six-pointer."
Bayern captain Mark van Bommel added: "The team that's on top (of the table) is always the favourite.
"We are sure, however, that we can win. We have not yet played convincingly this season but we are getting there slowly."
A Hoffenheim win will mean they are assured of top spot going into the winter break, regardless of how they fare in their final game of the year.
Bayern need a four-goal winning margin to claim top spot.
Following Friday night's encounter in Munich, eyes will turn to the remainder of the weekend programme.
Saturday's fixtures are highlighted by third-placed Hertha Berlin's trip to face Schalke.
The Gelsenkirchen club have suffered a dip in form in recent weeks with Wednesday night's 2-1 defeat to FC Twente all but ending their hopes of advancing to the knockout stage of the UEFA Cup.
"I'm convinced we'll turn things round, but you can only do that by working very hard," said coach Fred Rutten.
Former leaders Bayer Leverkusen go to struggling Borussia Monchengladbach, rock-bottom Karlsruhe host Werder Bremen while 2007 champions Stuttgart visit Cottbus.
Borussia Dortmund will be without Nelson Valdez when they go to Arminia Bielefeld.
The striker, who suffered a torn thigh muscle two weeks ago in Dortmund's 4-0 home victory over Eintracht Frankfurt, said: "I gave 200% again too soon."
The visitors could also be without midfielder Sebastian Kehl, who has an ankle injury.
"I would truly like to be in the line-up at Bielefeld, but I still have pain," said Kehl.
Eintracht Frankfurt meet Bochum while, on Sunday, Cologne host Hamburg and Hannover go to Wolfsburg.
