Two relegation-threatened sides do battle on Saturday evening when PEC Zwolle host SBV Excelsior at the MAC³PARK Stadion in the Eredivisie.
The hosts are 14th and six points clear of the visitors, who occupy the relegation playoff spot, but they are just a point from safety.
Match preview
PEC Zwolle had been having a solid first season back in the top flight up until a recent run of eight games without victory, six of those being defeats, has seen them cascade down the table and into 14th place.
That will have come as a huge disappointment to the home side, who found themselves in eighth place on matchday 21 thanks to an impressive run of six matches without defeat, the longest unbeaten streak they have put together this season.
Johnny Jansen's men could now be dragged even closer to the relegation zone if they drop points in the upcoming meeting with Excelsior, who are just six points behind them in the relegation playoff spot.
PEC Zwolle will take solace from the fact that they have not lost to Excelsior in a league setting since 2010, leaving them unbeaten in the last 11 league meetings between the sides.
However, Jansen's team have been extremely poor when playing at the MAC³PARK Stadion this season, only managing to pick up 12 points from the 14 games they have played in front of their home crowd.
Having said that, Excelsior have been one of the worst teams when playing on the road in the Eredivisie, taking nine points from 14 away matches thanks to two wins and three draws.
Marinus Dijkhuizen's side secured their survival in the top flight by the skin of their teeth last season, moving out of the relegation playoff zone in the final matches, sending FC Emmen down in the process as they lost to Almere City in the playoff match.
They will now be looking to repeat that feat once again this campaign as with six games left they are just a point behind RKC Waalwijk, while a win on Saturday would see them move to within three points of PEC Zwolle.
Wins have come as a rarity for Excelsior though, recording victory in only four of their 28 league games, with the last of those coming against SC Heerenveen in January.
Team News
Both sides are dealing with vast injury lists coming into this game, leaving neither side at full strength in this potential relegation six-pointer.
The hosts are likely to be without up to five players for this one, but Ferdy Druijf, Nick Fichtinger, Ryan Thomas and Zico Buurmeester are all potentially looking at returns in the coming weeks.
Youngster Samir Lagsir has failed to make an appearance since February 2023, but the midfielder is looking to return to the fold in the upcoming matches.
PEC Zwolle will once again be relying on the services of their top scorer Lennart Thy, who has scored 11 times this season, to earn them valuable points in this one.
As for Excelsior, Arthur Zagre will remain out until later this month after suffering a hamstring injury in March.
They could also be without Ian Smeulers, Kik Pierie, Lennard Hartjes, Redouan El Yaakoubi, Serano Seymor and leading scorer Troy Parrott, who are all doubts for this match.
PEC Zwolle possible starting lineup:
Schendelaar; Van der Water; Kersten, Lam, McNulty; El Azzouzi; Reijnders, Krastev, Van den Berg, Thy; Namli
SBV Excelsior possible starting lineup:
Van Gassel; Benita, Horemans, Widell, De Moes; Baas, Sandra; Naujoks, Goudmijn, Uddenas; Duijvestijn
We say: PEC Zwolle 1-1 SBV Excelsior
Both teams have been struggling for form in recent weeks, both entering into this game without victory for a stretch of matches, and we expect them to extend their search for victory with a draw here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
