With top-flight survival on the line, SBV Excelsior welcome Heracles to Van Donge & De Roo Stadion on Sunday in round 33 of the 2023-24 Eredivisie campaign.
The visitors, meanwhile, head to Rotterdam this weekend aiming to snap a three-game losing streak and all but secure their place in the top tier of Dutch football for next season.
Match preview
Excelsior were on the receiving end of a comprehensive 3-0 defeat against NEC Nijmegen when the teams went head-to-head on Monday evening.
Marinus Dijkhuizen's men fell behind to Tjarron Chery's opener right on the hour mark before further goals from the aforementioned Chery and Rober Gonzalez sealed the deal.
As a result, De Roodzwarten have dropped down to 16th place in the Eredivisie table, two points adrift of RKC Waalwijk in the battle for survival.
Lying in store next is the challenge of an opposing outfit who have come out on top in each of the last three editions of this fixture - the most recent of which was a 3-1 triumph in this season's earlier meeting.
Ahead of a daunting final-day assignment against Feyenoord next week, Sunday's hosts are now in the last chance saloon in their quest to beat the drop.
Heracles came away empty-handed from the third straight game owing to a 5-0 thrashing against Waalwijk at the Asito Stadium on Sunday.
David Min was the star of the show as he grabbed a hat-trick to put Erwin van de Looi's men to the sword and was joined on the scoresheet by Jurien Gaari and Shawn Adewoye.
With 32 points picked up from as many matches so far, De Heraclieden sit 14th in the standings, six points afloat of relegation heading into the penultimate round of matches.
Having lost all but one of their last seven matches on the road, Sunday's visitors have it all to do as they look to avoid another defeat away from home.
Team News
Sava-Arangel Cestic is currently ruled out for Heracles with an ankle injury, while defender Stijn Bultman misses out with a knee problem.
This weekend's visitors will also be without the services of Sven Sonnenberg and Emil Hansson, with the latter set to sit out a seventh straight game.
Excelsior defender Siebe Horemans received his marching orders against NEC last time out will serve a suspension in this one as a result.
Lennard Hartjes and Kik Pierie are out of contention for the hosts through knee and foot injuries respectively, but the latter is not far off a return to action.
SBV Excelsior possible starting lineup:
Van Gassel; Benita, El Yaakoubi, Zagre, Van Duinen; Baas, Goudmijn; Fernandes, Duijvestijn, Lamprou; Parrott
Heracles possible starting lineup:
Brouwer; Bakboord, Leerdam, Hoogma, Oppegard; De Keersmaecker, Vejinovic; Hrustic, Scheperman, Limbombe; Hornkamp
We say: SBV Excelsior 1-1 Heracles
There is little to choose between the sides and this weekend's clash could easily swing either way. That said, we are backing a share of the spoils with honours even at the end of the 90 minutes.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Adepoju Marvellous
