Ajax play host to Emmen on Sunday evening knowing that only a victory will realistically do if they wish to remain in the Eredivisie title race.
The Dutch giants sit eight points adrift of leaders Feyenoord with six matches left, while Emmen are 15th in the standings and just one point above the bottom three.
Match preview
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Although Ajax have needed to focus on their own form, they would have anticipated a drop-off of some sort from Feyenoord as they bid to earn a surprise title triumph.
However, that slump has not materalised, the leaders winning every league game since February 12, leaving Ajax to acknowledge that they must realistically prevail in each of their last six games.
Perhaps more importantly, they must look to guarantee second place in order to qualify for the Champions League, and they remain level on points with PSV Eindhoven having collected just four points from a possible nine.
With a trip to the Philips Stadion to come next week, it is imperative that Ajax do not drop further points at home to Emmen, something which is not a foregone conclusion like it has been in previous years.
The teams played out a 3-3 draw in the reverse fixture before the World Cup, the minnows coming from 3-1 down to salvage an unlikely point.
Johnny Heitinga will be wary of lightning striking twice at a time when Emmen have emerged as the form team in the battle to avoid relegation.
Dick Lukkien's team have recorded two wins and one draw from their last four fixtures, their solitary defeat coming at home to sixth-placed Sparta Rotterdam.
Last time out, Emmen played out a goalless stalemate with NEC Nijmegen, a result which ultimately put the club a point ahead of Excelsior in 16th spot.
On a positive note, though, Emmen are eight points clear of the guaranteed relegation places with six games left, leaving them to focus on avoiding a playoff.
Team News
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Barring any further injury issues, Heitinga has no reason to tinker with his Ajax XI after a 4-0 win versus Fortuna Sittard.
Devyne Rensch and Ahmetcan Kaplan could return to the squad, but Mohammed Kudus has been ruled out until the end of the month with a hamstring injury.
Lukkien may also be prepared to stick with the Emmen side which battled their way to a point with NEC.
Jeroen Veldmate was withdrawn after 66 minutes of that fixture, but the veteran should retain his spot in the centre of the backline.
Jeff Hardeveld is a definite absentee, while a number of players - including Mark Diemers and Rui Mendes - are injury doubts.
Ajax possible starting lineup:
Rulli; Sanchez, Timber, Alvarez, Baas; Klaassen, Grillitsch, Taylor; Berghuis, Tadic, Bergwijn
Emmen possible starting lineup:
Hart; Te Wierik, Araujo, Veldmate, Burnet; Bouchouari, Veendrop, Messaoudi, Antonisse; Romeny, Zivkovic
We say: Ajax 3-0 Emmen
Emmen are playing with enough belief that they will fancy their chances of upsetting Ajax on away territory. Nevertheless, this is a different level of step up, and it would come as a surprise if Ajax do not canter to victory, regardless of how Feyenoord fare earlier in the day.
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Top tip
Darren Plant
