Ajax play host to SBV Excelsior on Wednesday evening knowing they require all three points to maintain their challenge of fourth position in the Eredivisie standings.
Meanwhile, Excelsior make the trip to Amsterdam sitting just one point above the bottom three, albeit on the back of a morale-boosting victory.
Match preview
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On the back of one of the worst results in their history, losing 6-0 at rivals Feyenoord, Ajax's season remained in tatters ahead of the run-in.
That was still the case when they trailed FC Twente at half time of their recent Eredivisie fixture, yet John van't Schip's side would deliver a comeback that has not been in keeping with their domestic campaign.
Goals from Brian Brobbey and Steven Bergwijn, from the penalty spot, earned Ajax a 2-1 victory over the division's third-placed side, keeping them in the running for fourth place.
Although a seven-point gap to AZ Alkmaar remains with just four games left, Ajax have a favourable run of matches when their rivals still have Twente on their schedule.
Ajax also head into this contest having not lost a home league game since October, a statistic that has gone under the radar.
As far as Excelsior are concerned, they recently went almost three months without recording a single win in the Dutch top flight.
Nine defeats were posted during a 11-match period that left Marinus Dijkhuizen's side in the bottom three ahead of facing relegation rivals FC Volendam in what was undoubtedly the key match of their season thus far.
However, the Kralingers were able to deliver maximum points in style, recording a 4-0 win to move six points clear of their 17th-placed opponents.
Holding a +24 superior goal difference to Volendam, only a miraculous turnaround will see Excelsior drop any lower than 16th - the relegation playoff spot - before the end of the season, but Dijkhuizen will want to avoid any such match if it can be helped.
Team News
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Benjamin Tahirovic could be preferred to Branco van den Boomen in the centre of Ajax's midfield having contributed to the turnaround against FC Twente.
While Jordan Henderson is pushing for a return to the squad after injury, the England international is unlikely to be thrown into the starting lineup with Van't Schip having other options at his disposal.
With the extended gap between games, Van't Schip could plausibly opt to make just the solitary change, leaving Chuba Akpom on the substitutes' bench.
Troy Parrott is suspended for Excelsior having been sent off against Volendam during the closing moments, albeit after he had already been replaced.
Richie Omorowa could be handed the chance to impress in his place, the rest of the side potentially staying the same after a near two-week break from action.
Ajax possible starting lineup:
Rulli; Sutalo, Kaplan, Hato; Rensch, Mannsverk, Tahirovic, Taylor; Godts, Bergwijn; Brobbey
SBV Excelsior possible starting lineup:
Van Gassel; Benita, Horemans, Yaakoubi, Zagre; Goudmijn, Baas; Fernandes, Duijvestijn, Lamprou; Omorowa
We say: Ajax 2-0 SBV Excelsior
Although Ajax have been inconsistent over a prolonged period of time, the manner of their success over Twente has the potential to flick a switch. With that in mind, we are backing the home side to secure another welcome win on Wednesday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Darren Plant
