DORTMUND, June 14 - Tens of thousands of Poles heading west to Dortmund on Wednesday to watch Poland face World Cup host nation Germany will find a bedrock of support when they arrive.

Poles have lived in the gritty industrial area for generations and a constant stream of immigrants -- often swapping work in the coal mines of southern Poland for work in German mines -- has kept links and loyalties alive.

Polish surnames swell the local phone book, corner shops stock Polish sausage and beer and a thriving community guards its cultural heritage while being one of Germany's best integrated immigrant groups.

Precisely because they are so well integrated, Poles long settled in the Dortmund area have reacted to fears of an influx of Polish hooligans for the Germany game with dismay.

"I am really hoping we won't see any trouble around the game. I just cannot imagine it," said 24-year-old Katarina Gebalczyk, who moved to Dortmund from Poland when she was seven.

Fears of a violent showdown between fans have overshadowed Wednesday's Group A match for months, especially after about 100 Germans and Poles brawled near the border in November.

But German police said on the eve of the game they had no evidence pointing to planned clashes between German and Polish hooligans though they would deploy more officers than usual and remain on alert.

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Most of the Poles in the area, even those born and raised in Germany, say their allegiance belongs to Poland and they have buying red and white Polish flags in droves.

"I've been here since the mid 1980s, my kids are all born here. They speak better German than Polish -- but they know who to support," said Waldemar Kazimierczak outside the team's hotel in Essen last week.

However, Gebalczyk is more torn.

"I guess I will be happy whoever wins," she smiled, adding she hoped German-Poles could help keep things calm in Dortmund should they see tensions mounting.

Whatever the outcome, national honour is stake and the Poles will look to redeem themselves after losing their World Cup opener to Ecuador 2-0.

Polish team captain Jacek Bak, told a news conference on Tuesday: "The Germans can laugh at us in their newspapers and on TV, but I believe that we as Poles are capable of showing them on the pitch who we are."