Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen hopes he can impress in the Champions League against Bayer Leverkusen and keep the pressure on Claudio Bravo for domestic selection.
Bravo is Luis Enrique's first-choice goalkeeper in La Liga, while Ter Stegen has been used in Europe and the Copa del Rey since arriving from Borussia Monchengladbach last year.
Ter Stegen made a handful of league appearances this term while Bravo was injured and hopes to make the most of a rare start at the BayArena on Wednesday.
"It's not always easy but I don't feel I lack rhythm. We play a lot of midweek games," he told reporters.
"Last week I couldn't play in the Copa del Rey due to injury but I'm always very happy when I do play. I focus on what I can do and do my work properly.
"Then hopefully with my performances I can make it harder for the boss to make his decisions. I want to play as much as possible but ultimately it's the coach's decision as to who plays.
"I never know if I play or not but if I do then I want to play as best I can."
Barca have already secured top spot in Group E, while Leverkusen need to win to stand a chance of progressing to the knockout stages.
Ter Stegen's last visit to the BayArena resulted in a 4-2 defeat with Gladbach while he also featured in Barca's 2-1 win in September as Leverkusen led early on before late goals from Sergi Roberto and Luis Suarez.
"Leverkusen are always a dangerous team, I remember that when playing for Gladbach and we also saw that earlier this season," he added.
"But this is a new game, I understand they have a full strength team but we're top of the group, deservedly so, and we need to show we're a deserved group winner by deploying our best football.
"You always have to be careful, they put a lot of pressure up front. They created pressure at stages at the Camp Nou.
"They're going to try everything they can but we have the arguments to counter them."
‘He instantly popped into our ratings as one of the best U21 midfielders in Europe. The impressive thing is Slot has made him into more of a no.6' Inside Ryan Gravenberch's transformation at Liverpool
‘I don’t think Liverpool would look at Ollie Watkins, a striker isn’t a pressing issue for them – it’s Arsenal who need one’ Former Reds star explains why his old club don’t need an out-and-out forward this summer
