By John May

Bayern's Michael Ballack with a trophy - a familiar sight in Germany

With the World Cup looming at the end of the season, football in Germany is buzzing.

"The stadiums are looking fantastic, all the players know they are playing for national squad places, and everyone is excited and confident that Germany have a real chance of lifting the title on their own soil," says former FC Koln and England striker Woodcock.

But Bayern are set to throw a big damp blanket over the pre-World Cup season by turning the title race into a procession, according to Woodcock.

The Bavarian giants have won the title six times in the last nine seasons, and Woodcock sees no reason to back against them.

Even speculation surrounding the future of their talismanic prize asset, Michael Ballack, will not stop Bayern's title surge.

Ballack rejects Man Utd rumours

Woodcock told BBC Sport: "Bayern are not a one-man band and would be strong enough to win the title even without Ballack.

"I've always maintained that Bayern are the best organised club on and off the field I have seen anywhere and if there's any chance of Ballack leaving, you can be sure they will have somebody lined up."

Bayern's title triumph last season was built on a solid defence, which conceded just 33 goals in 34 games.

Woodcock expects Bayern to deliver another title

Their strike force is notably short on German representation, but Dutchman Roy Makaay, Peruvian Claudio Pizarro and Paraguayan Roque Santa Cruz certainly provide goals.

Bayern's real strength lies in midfield where they have seasoned internationals Sebastian Deisler, Jens Jeremies and Mehmet Scholl along with Ballack, the precocious Bastian Schweinsteiger and England midfielder Owen Hargreaves.

A name to look out for is Andreas Ottl, a German youth international who Bayern coach Felix Magath expects to break into the first-team this season.

I think Schalke might take the title this year but I'm hoping for another solid season from Werder From JD Have your say on 606

So where will the main challenge to Bayern come from?

Last season's runners-up Schalke were involved in the summer's big transfer when they prised German international striker Kevin Kuranyi from Stuttgart.

The miners' team also bolstered their midfield with German international Fabien Ernst from Werder Bremen.

Woodcock says: "Schalke are very powerful and have made some good signings. They will be up there challenging strongly."

Kevin Kuranyi is a key signing for Schalke

"Werder Bremen were champions two years ago and they have a very good coach in Thomas Schaaf. They have also made some very good signings," says Woodock.

There has been plenty of traffic through the door at Werder during the close season, with 10 players coming in, and nine going out.

International midfielder Torsten Frings has arrived from Bayern, while Werder have bolstered their defence with the addition of Brazilian Naldo and Belgian international Jelle van Damme from Southampton.

Woodcock also likes the look of Stuttgart under Giovanni Trapattoni's canny care.

Schalke pull out of Baros deal

Stuttgart signed Jesper Gronkjaer during the summer and Woodcock says: "They are a very young and enthusiastic team and they could be there or thereabouts."

One name Woodcock does not expect to feature in the title frame is Borussia Dortmund.

The 1997 European champions are still recovering from a trip to the brink of financial oblivion.

"Dortmund were virtually finished financially after gambling a lot of money on the Champions League.

"They got themselves into a mess to the point where they had to virtually put themselves into bankruptcy and start agani.

Koller's broad shoulders bear a lot of weight at Dortmund

"Dortmund used to be known as the Squad of Millionaires but they realise they now have to be more workmanlike."

Striker Ewerthon was sold to Real Zaragoza and Woodcock said: "They'll probably have to sell again, which is amazing for a club that has the highest average attendance in Europe.

"They get nearly 70,000 fans every home games and if they can get their sums wrong, anyone can."

Ewerthon's departure puts even more burden on the shoulders of giant Czech Republic striker Jan Koller who has carried Borussia over the past couple of seasons.

But Woodcock expects the title to remain in Bavaria.