Go Ahead Eagles and Fortuna Sittard meet in the Eredivisie on Sunday afternoon looking for the win which will guarantee their top-flight status for another year.
As it stands, the teams sit in 11th and 12th position in the standings respectively, eight and seven points ahead of the relegation playoff spot.
Match preview
© Reuters
Go Ahead Eagles have not recorded successive victories in the Eredivisie since September, always keeping the club as potential relegation candidates.
However, the midweek 3-2 win over RKC Waalwijk has left the club on the brink of retaining their top-flight status, now sitting in 11th spot with five games left.
Rene Hake is on course to improve on the club's 13th-placed finish from 2022-23, something which would represent significant progress for a club of their size.
With a trip to Feyenoord still to come, Go Ahead Eagles cannot afford to get ahead of themselves, yet that is the only away fixture in their next four outings.
Just four defeats have come in 14 fixtures at De Adelaarshorst this campaign, while they have also collected 10 points from their most recent four encounters on familiar territory.
From Fortuna Sittard's perspective, they have endured a dismal run of late, losing six of their last eight league matches to drop down the table.
Still holding a seven-point lead over 16th-placed Emmen, Julio Velazquez's team should be safe from relegation, but the Spaniard will want to get over the line as soon as possible.
While little would have been expected from games with Ajax and AZ, Fortuna Sittard conceded seven goals without reply in those contests.
Their away record is respectable - with 17 points coming from 14 games - but they have shipped 10 strikes in their last four fixtures on their travels.
Team News
Having an extra day of recovery from Wednesday's fixture with RKC Waalwijk may lead to Hake looking to select the same Go Ahead Eagles side.
If a change is made, Rashaan Fernandes may get the nod on the left flank ahead of Oliver Valaker Edvardsen.
Fredrik Oppegard and Gerrit Naube both remain on the injury list for the home side.
Alterations are far more likely to be made to the Fortuna Sittard XI as they bid to respond to two heavy defeats.
Reintroducing Dogan Erdogan and Umaro Embalo would represent logical changes, while Arianit Ferati will also feel in contention for a recall in midfield.
Go Ahead Eagles possible starting lineup:
Lange; Deijl, Amofa, Idzes, Kuipers; Linthorst, Rommens; Adekanye, Willumsson, Edvardsen; Lidberg
Fortuna Sittard possible starting lineup:
Pandur; Pinto, Slovas, Guth, Vita; Bistrovic, Erdogan, Ozyakup; Embalo, Gladon, Cordoba
We say: Go Ahead Eagles 1-1 Fortuna Sittard
Both teams are aware of the importance of victory, yet there will be an acceptance that avoiding defeat could also prove decisive come the end of the season. While we expect a competitive contest, do not be surprised if this fixture ends in a share of the spoils.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
