This Friday, Germany is going to select its Eurovision entry from a field of ten participants. The show Germany 12 points!, which takes place in the Arena Treptow in Berlin, will be broadcasted on ARD from 20:15 CET. The public will have the final decision concerning the country's Eurovision representative, voting by phone and SMS.

Unlike in previous years, where the nation's final used to consist mainly of unknown newcomers or comedy acts, the 2004 edition sees a line-up of well-known, successful and respectable pop stars.

Swiss singer Patrick Nuo opens the show with his entry Undone, followed by Berlin-based electropunk band Mia (Hungriges Herz), clear favourite of the show's co-host Sarah Kuttner, as she revealed in a recent interview: “I could hear their song ten times in a row”. Female rapper Sabrina Setlur (Liebe), who was joined during her rehearsal by rapper 50 Cent, is the third participant, to be followed by boyband Overground (Der letzte Stern), who reportedly had some technical difficulties during their first rehearsal. After the powerful-voiced Tina Frank, the hot favourite of the evening is to follow: SSDSGPS-winner Max, who just hit the top spot of the German singles charts with his Stefan-Raab-written entry Can't wait until tonight. Love parade veteran WestBam (Dancing with the rebels) and soulpop singer Laith Al-Deen (Höher), who also named Mia as his favourite, will come next, followed by girl duo Wonderwall (Silent tears). Expect some pyrotechnical effects as a part of Scooter's show, the closing act with Jigga Jigga.

For the voting break, broadcaster NDR lined up Turkish singer Mustafa Sandal, Lionel Richie, Berlin-based duo Rosenstolz and Australian chorus The Ten Tenors, who are going to perform a medley of songs written by Ralph Siegel. The German composer, one the Contest's veterans, is not present in this year's national final. As newspaper tz reported, he decided to produce Malta's representatives Julie & Ludwig instead.

The green room of the German final (picture) has some historical background: it once was a part of the Berlin Wall, dividing the city into two parts. Custom officials were patrolling only a few steps away of the place where tonight the artists have to wait for the final result.

The voting procedure will consist of two rounds: after the first voting, only the two highest-placed participants will proceed to the super final, where they have to battle for the final public's verdict. NDR already announced to publish only the results of the second voting.

As a part of the Big Four, Germany has a secured place in the final of the Eurovision Song Contest on 15 May.