Last season's Bundesliga title had looked like a two-horse race between Schalke 04 and Werder Bremen until Stuttgart won their last eight games and held their nerve to be crowned on the last day of the season.

But this time around, sides will know what to expect and will all want to beat the Bundesliga's best.

Stuttgart's success was built on coach Armin Veh's ability to blend his foreign imports with fresh home-reared talent, including potentially world-class striker Mario Gomez.

Having scored on his Germany debut in March against Switzerland, it was the 22-year-old who came off the bench on the penultimate weekend of the season at VfL Bochum to help turn a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 win.

Gomez signed a five-year contract this summer which keeps him at Stuttgart until 2012, turning down a possible move to Italian giants Juventus, and the striker is set to be a major force for his club and country this year.

Having damaged knee ligaments on March 10 at Wolfsburg, the Bochum win on May 12 was Gomez's first game back and the hot-shot needed just seven minutes to put Stuttgart level before Brazilian Cacau hit the winning goal.

While Stuttgart were fighting back in Bochum, league leaders Schalke 04 lost at deadly-rivals Borussia Dortmund and second-placed Werder Bremen slipped at home to Eintracht Frankfurt, allowing Stuttgart to leap into top spot.

With their rivals falling by the wayside, the new leaders held their nerve for a 2-1 win over Energie Cottbus on the last day of the season, but it is unlikely Stuttgart will be given any such gifts by their rivals this season.

It was Stuttgart who effectively ended Bayern Munich's hopes of a top-three spot to win a Champions League place when Brazilian Cacacu scored twice in two minutes in April's encounter.

Bayern flexed their financial might in the summer and splashed out 69 million euros to rebuild their squad, so starting the season as favourites to win their 21st German title, but in contrast Stuttgart have spent more modestly.

Romanian striker Ciprian Marica has been brought in from Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk for seven million euros, while Brazilian striker Ewerthon comes in on loan.

Battling midfielder Yildiray Basturk, who has long been courted by Veh, has come over from Hertha Berlin and Brazilian defender Gledson comes in from Hansa Rostock.

Stuttgart stalwart goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand finished his contract and left for Valencia, his replacement Raphael Schaefer is from Nuremberg.

In pre-season, Stuttgart were beaten 2-0 at home by the new and improved Bayern in the German League Cup semi-final, but were missing several top names and will be without Gledson for their opening games against Schalke and Hertha Berlin.

The Brazilian was hit with a double suspension after being sent off in Stuttgart's narrow German Cup first-round win at the weekend.

With last season's runners-up Schalke first up at the sold-out Gottlieb-Daimler Stadion on Friday night, Stuttgart will have to play like champions from the first whistle if they are going to end the season on top.