ROBBIE Kruse will play in Germany's top flight next season at the expense of fellow Socceroo Nikita Rukavytsya after their sides met in a dramatic promotion-relegation play-off.

Former Melbourne Victory striker Kruse's Fortuna Dusseldorf secured a return to the Bundesliga for the first time since 1997 by winning a play-off and condemning Rukavytsya's Hertha Berlin to relegation to the second tier.

Robbie Kruse. Credit:Getty Images

Having won 2-1 in Berlin in the first leg, Fortuna secured a 2-2 draw on home turf on Tuesday.

While Kruse did not make an appearance in the second leg, Rukavytsya started and came off in the second half for his team.