Two sides who have made contrasting starts to the 2022-23 Eredivisie season face off at the Abe Lenstra Stadion on Saturday as Heerenveen play host to Fortuna Sittard.
The hosts are yet to suffer defeat this term, while the visitors go in search of their first point of the campaign at the fourth time of asking.
Match preview
Following two consecutive draws, Heerenveen got their season up and running courtesy of an emphatic 4-0 victory over Vitesse at the GelreDome on Saturday afternoon.
Sydney van Hooijdonk was the star of the show as he grabbed a superb hat-trick to lead Kees van Wonderen's men to all three points in Arnhem.
De Superfriezen have moved up to seventh place in the Eredivisie table as a result, just two points adrift of Feyenoord in second spot.
Lying in store next is the challenge of an opposing outfit with little to choose between the teams as the last seven meetings have yielded three wins apiece and one stalemate.
With just one defeat in their last 11 games on home turf, Saturday's hosts have proven themselves to be a tough nut to crack in front of their fans.
Fortuna Sittard fell to a humbling 4-1 defeat versus Cambuur when the sides locked horns at the Fortuna Sittard Stadion on Saturday.
Sjors Ultee's men broke the deadlock through Burak Yilmaz, before a Mees Hoedemakers brace sandwiched in between goals from Michael Breij and Jasper ter Heide turned the game on its head.
Consequently, the Fortunezen sit bottom but one in the league standings with no points so far, ahead of bottom-club Vitesse only on goal difference.
Off the back of a turbulent campaign last time out where they only avoided relegation on the final day, Saturday's visitors will need to get their act together as soon as possible to avoid being involved in another relegation scrap this time.
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Team News
Ian Beelen has missed each of the visitors' last seven games through injury and the Dutchman's involvement is a major doubt for Saturday's contest.
Off the back of a superb hat-trick last time out, 22-year-old Sydney van Hooijdonk will head into this one with the wind firmly in his sails.
Having scored in two of his opening three games in a Fortuna Sittard shirt, forward Burak Yilmaz is expected to lead the line once again.
With three yellow cards in as many games this term, Mats Seuntjens will need to keep his discipline in check to avoid picking up an early suspension.
Heerenveen possible starting lineup:
Noppert; Kohlert, Van Aken, Bochniewicz, Van Beek, Van Ewijk; Halilovic, Tahiri, Haye; Sarr, Van Hooijdonk
Fortuna Sittard possible starting lineup:
Van Osch; Cox, Siovas, Guth, Tirpan; Cordoba, Duarte, Ferati; Gladon, Yilmaz, Seuntjens
We say: Heerenveen 1-1 Fortuna Sittard
There is very little to separate the sides, and this weekend's clash could easily swing either way. We are tipping the teams to nullify the threat of each other, resulting in a share of the spoils at the sound of the final whistle.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Adepoju Marvellous
