Ajax play host to Willem II on Sunday knowing that victory will keep them in a strong position to eventually challenge for places higher up the table.
At a time when the home side sit in fifth place in the Eredivisie standings with two games in hand, the visitors to Amsterdam are in eighth spot.
Match preview
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Given the postponements earlier in the season, Ajax's campaign has been a bit stop-start and they are currently playing catch-up on the teams above them.
Nevertheless, Francesco Farioli's side appear to be building a head of steam with four victories and one draw coming from their last five top-flight fixtures.
Some of those games have been far more competitive than they would have hoped, particularly last weekend when they twice came from behind to earn a thrilling 4-3 triumph over Heracles.
On a positive note, however, 15 goals have been scored in the aforementioned five games, while just one goal has been conceded in their three home matches.
Ajax are also flying in the Europa League, their 3-0 win versus Qarabag FK earlier this week taking them to seven points from their opening three fixtures.
Meanwhile, Willem II will be delighted with their current standing on the back of winning the second-tier title in 2024-25.
Accumulating 12 points from their first nine games has left them sitting in the top half of the table, four points clear of the relegation zone.
Peter Maes will be encouraged by successive clean sheets coming either side of the international break, a 1-0 success at Almere City being following by a goalless draw with Fortuna Sittard.
Having already earned a share of the spoils versus Feyenoord at De Kuip this season, there will be no fear ahead of making the trip to the home of another of the division's giants.
Team News
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Having made a number of changes for the trip to Qarabag, Farioli could revert back to a team similar to the Heracles game.
That would see the likes of Bertrand Traore and Brian Brobbey return in the final third, although Wout Weghorst has made a case for an inclusion with three goals in two games.
While Daniele Rugani came through 59 minutes on Thursday night, the Italian centre-back will likely drop back down to the substitutes' bench.
Boris Lambert is an option to come into the Willem II midfield with each of Jesse Bosch and Amine Lachkar both being withdrawn at half time versus Fortuna Sittard.
The trio of Dani Mathieu, Erik Schouten and Niels van Berkel are all expected to remain sidelined.
Ajax possible starting lineup:
Pasveer; Rensch, Sutalo, Baas, Hato; Klaassen, Henderson, Taylor; Traore, Brobbey, Godts
Willem II possible starting lineup:
Didillon-Hodl; Tirpan, Behounek, Jago, Nizet; Lachkar; Doodeman, Bosch, Meerveld; Sandra, Vaesen
We say: Ajax 4-1 Willem II
Having lost just three times this season, Willem II will back themselves to earn something from this contest. Nevertheless, Ajax are building up a head of steam, leading us to predict a one-sided victory.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Darren Plant
