Hamburg  -  may still trail leaders Hertha Berlin by four points but the holders have started the psychological warfare as the Bundesliga season reaches the deciding stages.

Fifteen goals for three wins in eight days have restored confidence at the Munich camp.

"It's important that Berlin feels the Bavarian breath. It is time for them to falter," said chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

Munich were not glorious in a 3-0 beating of VfL Bochum on Saturday, but this win after a 5-1 demolition of Hanover 96 and 7-1 Champions League rout against Sporting Lisbon appears to indicate that the record champions mean business when it matters.

"The team is very stable now. We feel that we can do it on our own," said coach Juergen Klinsmann, who has been under pressure after below-par results in recent weeks.

Munich were almost untroubled in Bochum even though forward Luca Toni and midfield ace Franck Ribery were sidelined with injuries and Germany striker Miroslav Klose limped out in the first half.

They were ruthlessly efficient which has long been a trademark of Germany's number one club, especially in crucial stages of the season.

That's no surprise for Rummenigge, who believes that the pressure will mount on Hertha and the other title contenders. Rummenigge is upbeat that his team will deal with it best because it is used to it.

General manager Uli Hoeness said that Munich have the easier programme than Hertha in the final 10 games.

"Look at the schedule. Hertha has six away games, we only four," said Hoeness.

Hoeness' brother Dieter has the same job at Hertha and like everyone at the club tries to keep his feet on the ground amid growing expectation in the first German title since 1931.

Hertha were efficient again in their 1-0 over Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday with Ukraine forward Andrey Voronin a familiar match winner with his seventh goal in five games.

Berlin face big tests over the coming weeks, a tough date at VfB Stuttgart next weekend and back-to-back away games at title rivals TSG Hoffenheim and SV Hamburg in late April and early May.

However, nothing is impossible in a crazy season which has seen all top teams struggling for consistency.

"I would be lying if I wouldn't want to be national champion, and I believe it will never be as easy again as this year," said captain Arne Friedrich. dpa