Unbeaten in their last five matches, Go Ahead Eagles welcome Heerenveen to De Adelaarshorst on Saturday in round 10 of the 2022-23 Eredivisie season.
On the other hand, the visitors make the trip to Deventer looking to end a rough patch which has seen them win just one of their most recent five outings.
Match preview
Go Ahead Eagles had to make do with a share of the spoils for the second game running following a goalless stalemate against Cambuur on Sunday.
Despite having the larger share of the ball possession and mustering more efforts on goal, Rene Hake's men failed to find the breakthrough that their dominance perhaps merited.
With eight points from their nine matches so far, the pride of the IJssel Kowet are currently 13th in the Eredivisie table, three points clear of relegation danger.
Awaiting them next is the task of facing off against an opposing side who have suffered defeat in just one of the last 14 meetings between the teams.
Off the back of consecutive clean sheets on home turf, Saturday's hosts will be aiming to put on a solid defensive performance in front of their fans once again.
Heerenveen were beaten at home for the first time this term following a narrow 1-0 defeat against PSV Eindhoven at the Abe Lenstra Stadion on Sunday.
Kees van Wonderen's men had their backs against the wall for the majority of the contest but looked set to hold on for a point before Cody Gakpo broke the deadlock in the 75th minute.
As a result, De Superfriezen have been leapfrogged by both Sparta Rotterdam and RKC Waalwijk in the league standings and now occupy eighth place.
Saturday's visitors follow up this weekend's clash with a KNVB-Beker tie against lower league opposition Hoek on Tuesday, while their hosts face off against Helmond the following day.
Team News
Go Ahead Eagles' Oliver Edvardsen has scored four times in his five matches on home turf this season and will be aiming to deliver the goods once again.
Since missing his side's opening fixture against AZ Alkmaar, Philippe Rommens has played every minute of the hosts' campaign and is expected to retain his place in the XI.
Heerenveen's Joost van Aken has missed each of the last two games with a muscle problem, which is set to keep him out of Saturday's contest as well.
Having seen his team fail to score in four of their last five matches, Kees van Wonderen might consider dropping one of Amin Sarr or Sydney van Hooijdonk.
Go Ahead Eagles possible starting lineup:
De Lange; Deijl, Idzes, Amofa, Kuipers; Willumsson, Linthorst, Rommens, Edvardsen; Adekanye, Lidberg
Heerenveen possible starting lineup:
Noppert; Kohlert, Van Ottele, Bochniewicz, Van Beek, Van Ewijk; Olsson, Haye, Tahiri; Van Hooijdonk, Andersson
We say: Go Ahead Eagles 1-1 Heerenveen
Heerenveen have enjoyed the better of this fixture in recent years, but they head into Saturday's contest on a poor run of results. Nonetheless, we back them to come away with a point in what should be a thrilling affair.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
