The Swiss coach took over in December when Markus Babbel was sacked with the club languishing inside the bottom three of the Bundesliga and he made it clear from the outset that his one and only aim for the season was to avoid relegation.

The situation has now changed substantially with the Swabians lying seven points behind the top five and Gross has now shifted his focus.

"If we want to play in Europe next season, then everything has got to go our way, but we will try everything to make it possible," he said.

"I could sense a lot of energy in the side after the historic win over Bayern Munich."

Stuttgart host Borussia Monchengladbach at the Mercedes-Benz Arena tomorrow and Gross knows his side will be put to the test.

"Given our win over Bayern, everybody will expect us to carry on like that, but we are playing against opponents who got back to winning ways against Hamburg and will come here with confidence," he said.

Gross will be without the suspended Cacau, who this week confirmed he will be leaving the club at the end of the season, while Alexander Hleb, Sebastian Rudy and Sami Khedira are all injured.

Pavel Pogrebnyak should replace Cacau and partner the in-form Ciprian Marica in the attack.

Monchengladbach coach Michael Frontzek has Martin Bradley available again after suspension, but he was coy about his team selection.

Other than saying he has a "fully-fit squad to choose from", Frontzeck refused to go into any detail about which 11 players he will send out onto the pitch tomorrow.