Schalke 04 head into Tuesday's Champions League clash against Turkey's Galatasaray fuelled with confidence after beating German champions Borussia Dortmund but will be without key striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.
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The Dutchman partially tore a ligament in the Ruhr valley derby on Saturday after a collision with his own keeper and has been ruled out for some weeks, but will not need surgery.
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His absence, however, could prove vital as Schalke look to advance after their last-16, first-leg 1-1 draw in Istanbul.
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For club bosses, however, victory over Dortmund in Germany's biggest derby overshadowed the bad news of Huntelaar's injury and was exactly the boost Schalke needed after a bad run.
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"That is balm for our soul," said Schalke sports director Horst Heldt after Saturday's 2-1 victory that enabled them to climb back into the Bundesliga top four.
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"To deservedly beat the champions does not happen every day and it gives us courage for the tasks ahead," Heldt told reporters.
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Schalke have enjoyed a rollercoaster season that has left the club with only the Champions League title to fight for.
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They began well and stayed close to leaders Bayern Munich until late in the year when they imploded, exiting the German Cup and dropping down the table.
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Their win on Saturday was their third straight success after a miserable run of one victory in their previous 11 matches.
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"Galatasaray will be a different game but those at Galatasaray will also have seen our game against Dortmund. I am convinced we will take that next big step," Heldt added.
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Schalke, who together with Juventus and Borussia Dortmund are the only undefeated teams left in the competition, last made it to the last eight in 2011 on their way to the semifinal of Europe's premier club competition.
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They will be without hard-tackling midfielder Jermaine Jones, who is suspended having received a yellow card in the first leg.