Germany defender Benedikt Hoewedes has delayed hip surgery until the end of the season to help steer Schalke out of their crisis -- and face Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich on Saturday.

The 28-year-old Schalke captain was part of the Germany team which won the 2014 World Cup but has been told by doctors that he needs surgery to fix a hip problem.

The Royal Blues defender has delayed going under the knife until June in order to help his side, starting with Bayern away at Munich's Allianz Arena on Saturday.

"Benedikt came to us and suggested it -- we would never ask it of a player," Schalke's sports director Christian Heidel told German daily Bild.

Hoewedes has been with Schalke, nicknamed 'Die Knappen' (The Miners), since 2001 and wants to help with coach Markus Weinzierl under pressure after losing nine of his 18 league games since taking charge this season.

"We are now in such a menacing situation that we have to try and take points everywhere," said Hoewedes, who is Schalke's top scorer against Bayern in recent years with three goals.

"Why not in Munich? Of course we're playing like crap, but the fact we are being whistled by our own fans really damn hurts."

Bayern are three points clear in Germany's top flight while Schalke are 11th in the table.

After four poor performances in a row, Schalke's fans are running out of patience with Weinzierl, recruited from Augsburg, and ex-Mainz boss Heidel, who are both in their first season in Gelsenkirchen.

Weinzierl's record makes him the worst Schalke coach since 1993 having lost his first five games in charge this season -- an unwanted new club record.