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Rapid ready to step up to plate

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The resumption of the Austrian Bundesliga season is still six weeks away but, with leaders FC Salzburg looming large, champions SK Rapid Wien are already hard at work as they prepare to step up their title defence.

Peter Pacult is hoping to lead Rapid to more glory
Peter Pacult is hoping to lead Rapid to more glory ©Getty Images

The Austrian Bundesliga season is only just over the halfway stage and the resumption of the season is still six weeks away but, with leaders FC Salzburg looming large, champions SK Rapid Wien are already hard at work as they prepare to step up their title defence.

Defining period
The Vienna club sit four points behind Salzburg at the winter break having played a game more than their title rivals, and know that defeat at EM Stadion Wals-Siezenheim would all but end their hopes of claiming a 33rd league championship. However, having won 7-0 in Salzburg last March – and with a home fixture against the leaders to come in May – Rapid departed for a training camp in Cyprus on Thursday in high spirits.

'Set the trend'
"Right away in the first week at Salzburg we have a very important game which could end up setting a trend for us," said defender Andreas Dober. "We will do everything we can and will prepare especially hard for this match at the training camp." Rapid will face German 2. Bundesliga clubs 1. FC Kaiserslautern and FC St. Pauli in friendly fixtures in Cyprus before heading to another training camp in Belek, Turkey, as they fine-tune their preparations for the spring campaign.

Home help

Despite the deficit at the top, with home games against fellow challengers SK Sturm Graz and FK Austria Wien to come – and a home average gate of 16,800, more than any other Austrian club – Rapid are in confident mood, not least because they are undefeated in 18 home league games dating back to a 3-1 loss against Salzburg in December 2007. Coach Peter Pacult is likely to keep faith with the current squad, although 20-year-old Christoph Schösswendter and Nikola Kovacevic, 18 have been signed as the club looks to improve its youth department.

Youthful ambition
"We're not a saving club; we have a good team that costs a bit," said sports director Alfred Hörtnagl. "We are pushing the young talent very hard and hope the youngsters can be brought into the adult groups and then eventually go into professional football." For now, however, Rapid have more immediate concerns at hand.

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