Borussia Monchengladbach could equal a 44-year-old club record of 17 competitive games unbeaten from the start of the season at home to Hoffenheim on Sunday.
Lucien Favre's Foals, second in the table, drew 0-0 with defending champions Bayern Munich last weekend and have played some of the most exciting football in Germany this season.
And their reward could be to equal the achievement of the 1970-71 team, coached by Hennes Weisweiler, who went on to beat Bayern to the title.
"The Weisweiler run is a fantastic goal, a huge motiviation," midfielder Christoph Kramer told Bild. Captain Martin Stranzl added: "Our hunger distinguishes us. We do not wane a bit after a victory."
#INSERT type:image caption:Lucien Favre has guided Gladbach to second place in the Bundesliga table. END#
Sporting director Max Eberl said: "We have to be there should Bayern slip up" -- but visitors Hoffenheim have also not suffered defeat this season and are only a point behind the Foals.
Gladbach have recovered from the sales of key players Marco Reus, Dante, and Roman Neustadter in summer 2012, and Bayern skipper Philipp Lahm has spoken of their development into a possible "second force" in Germany.
His comments were echoed by Eberl, who told Sport 1 that the club would be aiming to win the championship.
"I will not say that we will never win a title," he said. "But I am also realistic -- it's very difficult.
"We want to make use of this run we are on, and should we still be up in those regions [at the top of the table] come matchday 25 or 26, then we want to dare to take the great step."