The Germany international picked up his fifth yellow card of the season on Saturday and must serve a one-match ban. He has already missed much of the season due to injury.

This latest self-inflicted absence leaves him without any sympathy from his club.

Bremen's general manager Klaus Allofs called it "absolutely unnecessary," with team-mate Tim Borowski adding that "Torsten is our leader and it is going to be hard for us".

Frings will miss what is set to be a crucial derby against Hamburg in midweek, with a place in the Champions League practically guaranteed if Bremen can win.

For the home side, it is the last chance to narrow the six-point gap on their local rivals and keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League next season.

Despite the Bundesliga title going to Bayern Munich on Sunday, there are still other issues to be resolved in the final three games of the season.

While Bayern's march to silverware was predictable, confusion still reigns over which two clubs will follow them into the Champions League, which two will qualify for the UEFA Cup and which three will be relegated.

With the season finishing early to accommodate Germany coach Joachim Low's wishes to work with his squad in good time before Euro 2008, there is no respite with a midweek round of Bundesliga matches.

Schalke currently lie third two points behind Bremen and they too must survive a local derby tinged with bad memories.

It was at precisely the same stage of last season that the Royal Blues travelled to neighbouring Bochum with a seemingly comfortable lead at the top of the table.

A draw followed by a defeat to Dortmund saw them lose top spot to Stuttgart - a position they failed to regain. With Stuttgart reducing their deficit on Schalke to four points at the weekend, there is more than a hint of deja vu about Tuesday's matches.

Turning to the bottom of the table, Energie Cottbus are still in danger after losing to Bremen on Saturday, but three points at Karlsruhe on Tuesday would leave them just one win away from securing a third year in the Bundesliga.

Arminia Bielefeld are in the same situation as they travel to Bayern Munich on Wednesday. Hansa Rostock, Nurnberg and Duisburg all desperately need to win. The latter two meet on Wednesday in a decisive relegation six-pointer at the Franken Stadium.

Duisburg's win against Leverkusen on Sunday lifted them off the foot of the table above Nurnberg, three points behind Bielefeld and Cottbus.

Rostock are in action on Tuesday in Karlsruhe, while this week's other games see Leverkusen entertain Hertha Berlin and Frankfurt host Wolfsburg.