With much still left to be decided, round 28 of the 2022-23 Eredivisie season commences with a meeting between Groningen and FC Utrecht at Euroborg on Friday evening.
Off the back of disappointing results last time out, both sides will be keen to secure a much-needed return to winning ways in what promises to be an enthralling affair.
Match preview
Groningen were beaten for the fourth league game running courtesy of a comprehensive 3-1 defeat against Fortuna Sittard at the Fortuna Sittard Stadion on Sunday.
A first-half double from Inigo Cordoba left Dennis van der Ree's men with a mountain to climb before Ricardo Pepi pulled one back, only for Paul Gladon to seal the deal in second-half stoppage time.
As a result, Trots van het Noorden are now a whopping seven points adrift in the race for survival, while also maintaining 17th place in the Eredivisie table.
Up next is the challenge of an opposing outfit with little to choose between the teams as the last seven outings have yielded two wins apiece for either side and a draw.
In the first of seven crucial games between now and May to save their top-flight status, Friday's hosts know that anything less than a victory would take them one step closer to being relegated.
FC Utrecht had to make do with a share of the spoils in their encounter against FC Volendam at Stadion Galgenwaard on Sunday, which ended in a goalless stalemate.
Michael Silberbauer's men dominated proceedings for major spells of the contest and came close to securing the victory through Bart Ramselaar's 60th-minute strike, only for the VAR to rule it out for offside.
Picking up 39 points from their 25 matches so far, the Domstedelingen remain seventh in the standings, but their Conference League playoff spot is now under serious threat with a couple of teams in and around beginning to bear down on them.
Having seen their 13 games on the road yield a league-high 56 goals, Friday's visitors will be bracing themselves for another action-packed outing away from home.
Team News
Groningen's Paulos Abraham remains sidelined with a long-term knee problem, while Thijmen Blokzijl misses out of Friday's game through a damaged ankle.
Nordin Musampa recently made a brief return to action, but the 21-year-old's injury problem has since relapsed and will now keep him out for the hosts.
Ricardo Pepi continued his fine goalscoring form last time out with his fourth goal in three matches for club and country, making him one to keep an eye on here.
Utrecht's Calvin Raatsie is set to sit out a 14th game on the bounce due to an ankle problem, and the Dutchman is still a considerable way off making his comeback.
Can Bozdogan and Django Warmerdam are also unavailable for the away side due to knee injuries, but Bas Dost is now fit again after coming off the bench against Volendam.
Groningen possible starting lineup:
Verrips; Willems, Balker, Chalus, Van Gelderen; Oratmangoen, Suslov, Hove; Manu, Pepi, Antman
FC Utrecht possible starting lineup:
De Keijzer; Klaiber, Van der Hoorn, Viergever, Hendriks; Toornstra, Brouwers, Van de Streek; Booth, Ramselaar, Douvikas
We say: Groningen 1-2 FC Utrecht
Both teams are currently on a downward spiral heading into Friday's meeting, and neither of them will want to come away empty-handed. We expect a keenly-contested affair with the visitors just about emerging victorious at the end of the 90 minutes.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
