Round 15 of the 2022-23 Eredivisie season concludes with a meeting between SBV Excelsior and Groningen at Van Donge & De Roo Stadion on Sunday afternoon.
The home side are currently on a run of one victory in eight matches, while their visitors set out to snap a three-game winless run in the league.
Match preview
Groningen failed to win in front of their fans for the third game running courtesy of a 2-0 loss against Almere City at Euroborg on December 30.
Goals in either half from Ilias Alhaft and Bradly Van Hoeven put Dennis van der Ree's men to the sword in a what was a largely one-sided affair.
With just four points picked up from the last 24 available, Trots van het Noorden are 15th in the Eredivisie table, just one point clear of relegation danger as the season approaches its halfway stage.
Next on the menu is the challenge of an opposing outfit who have managed just one victory in the most recent six clashes involving the teams across all competitions.
Currently with the joint-fewest number of goals scored away from home in the top tier of Dutch football, Sunday's visitors have it all to do as they look to avoid yet another futile outing on the road.
SBV Excelsior continued their downward spiral following a 3-1 defeat against Willem II at the Koning Willem II Stadion in Tilburg on December 30.
Wessel Dammers, Joeri Schroijen and Jizz Hornkamp all netted before the hour mark to leave Marinus Dijkhuizen's men with a mountain to climb after which Serano Seymor pulled one back late on.
The Kralingers have now won just one of their five warm-up fixtures for the concluding part of the campaign, which is in keeping with their form in the league where they sit 14th in the standings.
Ahead of a crunch KNVB-Beker clash against AZ Alkmaar three days later, Sunday's hosts will be looking to set the tone with a dominant display this weekend.
Team News
Ragnar Oratmangoen was forced off with a first-half injury in Groningen's last outing, ruling the 24-year-old out of contention for Sunday's affair.
Nordin Musampa also misses out for the visitors as he steps up his recovery from a muscle problem which has seen him sidelined for three months.
Excelsior's Yassine Ayoub completed 90 minutes for the first time since his return to action against Excelsior, and the Moroccan is on course to start in this one.
Julian Baas did not feature for the visitors in the aforementioned game, but the Dutchman could make his comeback to the lineup this weekend.
SBV Excelsior possible starting lineup:
Van Gassel; Tjoe, Seymor, El Yaakoubi, Horemans; Ayoub, Baas; Azarkan, Goudmijn, Lamprou; Kharchouch
Groningen possible starting lineup:
Verrips; Kalley, Balker, Mariani, Dankerlui; Schreuders, Kasanwirjo, Pelupessy; Suslov, Pepi, Lundqvist
We say: SBV Excelsior 1-1 Groningen
Excelsior and Groningen are neck and neck in the league table, suggesting that a close contest is on the cards here. We are tipping the sides to cancel each other out and settle for a point apiece come the sound of the full-time whistle.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Adepoju Marvellous
