Heerenveen and FC Volendam will go head-to-head at the Abe Lenstra Stadion in gameweek 28 of a highly pulsating 2022-23 Eredivisie season on Saturday evening.
Both teams were involved in a share of the spoils in their respective last outings, and they will be eager to get back to winning ways with all three points this weekend.
Match preview
In the second of two straight draws, Heerenveen held AZ Alkmaar to a 1-1 deadlock when the sides faced off at the AFAS Stadion on Saturday.
Kees van Wonderen's men took a shock lead in the fifth minute thanks to Sydney van Hooijdonk's opener before Xavier Mous inadvertently turned the ball into his own net 15 minutes from time to restore parity.
Consequently, De Superfriezen have dropped down to ninth place in the Eredivisie table, moving out of the final Conference League playoff spot, albeit only on goal difference.
Lying in store next is the challenge of an opposing outfit who have been beaten in 10 of the 11 editions of this fixture over the last two decades.
Currently on a run of five defeats and a draw across their most recent six matches on home turf, Saturday's hosts set out to turn their home fortunes around heading into the final stretch of the campaign.
Off the back of six games split evenly into three wins and as many losses, Volendam played out a goalless draw against FC Utrecht at Stadion Galgenwaard on Sunday.
Wim Jonk's men rode their luck for large spells of the contest and were fortunate to come away with a point from a largely one-sided affair.
Picking up 27 points from as many league matches so far, Het Andere Oranje sit 13th in the standings but are only three points above the chasing pack in the battle against relegation.
Winless in seven away outings leading up to this weekend's action, the visitors have it all to do in what is shaping up to be a potentially season-defining clash.
Team News
Volendam's Xavier Mbuyamba made his return to action from a suspension last time out, and the 21-year-old is expected to retain his place in the starting lineup.
Off the back of a monstrous performance between the sticks against Utrecht, Filip Stankovic recorded what was only a third clean sheet in 26 games.
Andries Noppert remains unavailable for selection, having missed each of the last 12 matches through a hip injury, while Joost van Aken is currently nursing a knee problem.
Heerenveen will also have to make do with the absence of Sven van Beek with the 28-year-old defender yet to recuperate from a damaged Achilles.
Finding the back of the net in each of his last three appearances for the visitors, Sydney van Hooijdonk is definitely one to keep an eye on here.
Heerenveen possible starting lineup:
Mous; Kohlert, Bochniewicz, Van Ottele, Van Ewijk; Tahiri, Haye; Sahraoui, Van Amersfoort, Olsson; Van Hooijdonk
FC Volendam possible starting lineup:
Stankovic; Murkin, Mbuyamba, Benamar, Plat, Buur; Oristanio, Twigt, Eiting, Van Mieghem; Veerman
We say: Heerenveen 2-1 FC Volendam
Like Volendam, Heerenveen have had little problem in the goalscoring department of late and we expect both teams to score in this one. That said, Heerenveen possess the more well-rounded of the two squads and we are backing them to emerge triumphant.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
