Hertha's Weiser all the wiser against Bayern

A cheeky haircut and a mischievous grin. Weiser exudes character whether on the field or off it. The Hertha winger shows off his extravagant dress sense even when walking the streets of the German capital.

It is all documented on his Instagram profile. Weiser fits the modern image of the club which general manager Michael Preetz is trying to impose. "Die Alte Dame" (old lady) nickname may be on its way to becoming a thing of the past.

"We try, we fail, we win" is the motto of the club's promotional campaign. Or as Hertha coach Pal Dardai might put it: Cavalier football with passion and a willingness to run. Sure, it may sometimes go wrong but the courage to take risks will often be rewarded. His protege Weiser embodies the principle like no other Berliner.

He himself failed. He did not make the grade at mighty Bayern, had to start again and found happiness in Berlin. His speed and guile make him stand out. Weiser is a key part of Dardai's plans and he is ready to get under Bayern’s skin in Wednesday’s Bundesliga clash in Bavaria.

First big test

"We want to come back from Munich unbeaten," said Dardai. “"For that you need luck. But we have a hard-working team." Their Bundesliga start this term has surprised many, even though they also made a good start last term before falling away just when it mattered.

Hertha have three wins from three this season for the first time ever. Weiser was the matchwinner with a goal and an assist in the 2-0 win over Schalke on Sunday. It was the first big test for the Berliners after an easier beginning with victories against Freiburg und Ingolstadt.

"It is great to start like this after the difficulties of pre-season. We have got little credit," said Weiser. The campaign began horribly with a Europa League qualifying round exit to Denmark's Brondby. Then Dardai controversially took the captain's armband off Fabian Lustenberger a gave it to Vedad Ibisevic. The move was much talked about in the Berlin tabloids but it was the wakeup call the team needed.

Since exiting Europe, Hertha have looked settled, have not lost their heads and have managed to get the edge in close games.

Workmanlike team

Weiser is no longer just a talent but a prominent figure in an otherwise workmanlike Hertha team. You could almost call him a star. At Bayern his chances of shining were limited. He moved to the powerhouses in 2012 after just one Bundesliga game for Cologne. "I really wanted to do it," he says now looking back.

He did not get playing time under Jupp Heynckes and went on loan to second division Kaiserslautern. On his return to Bayern, Pep Guardiola gave the talented wideman a few chances and Weiser showed glimpses of what he could do. But like so many before him, there just was not enough room in the star ensemble at the Allianz and he moved on.

Is Löw eyeing Weiser’s progress?

"It is obviously a great story for our fans. We want to take something away from Munich too," said Weiser. "We have big plans for this season."

German football experts see a lot of potential in Weiser. He was due to be in the Germany Olympic squad in Rio de Janeiro but Hertha blocked his release. It showed how important he is to Dardai´s team. Who knows if Germany coach Joachim Löw is watching his progress.

Weiser can play as a winger but also as a right back, a major problem position for the world champions. With a strong showing against Bayern on Wednesday, he will move a step closer to a national team call-up.