AZ Alkmaar play host to RKC Waalwijk on Sunday evening looking for the win which will keep the club in contention for second place in the Eredivisie standings.
At a time when the home side sit five points adrift of that mark, the visitors occupy eighth spot and are involved in a tussle to retain hold of that position.
Match preview
© Reuters
For much of this season, AZ have been focused on trying to last the pace in the Eredivisie with the usual top two performing far below par.
However, although they are now 13 points adrift of leaders Feyenoord, launching a late bid to finish in the top two and winning the Europa Conference League are their priorities.
Achieving both will push Pascal Jansen's team to the limit, yet still having showdowns with Ajax and PSV Eindhoven on their schedule means that anything is possible.
On Thursday night, AZ enjoyed one of their best evenings in their history, overturning a 2-0 aggregate deficit against Anderlecht to eventually win on penalties at the AFAS Stadion.
Although playing extra time may prove detrimental ahead of this fixture, setting up a semi-final showdown with West Ham United will be deemed worth it, and AZ face a two-week break after this contest to recharge their batteries.
Meanwhile, RKC Waalwijk are concentrated on trying to record another top-half finish in the Dutch top flight after a relatively strong second half to the campaign.
While four defeats have been posted in six matches, Joseph Oosting's side have prevailed in the other two fixtures to keep them in eighth place, their finishing spot in 2022-23.
Now seven points behind seventh with five games left, Oosting may accept that retaining eighth is their best-case scenario, although the top-five clubs will be off the schedule after Sunday's match.
RKC's away form has let them down this season, winning just twice in 14 fixtures, but they did recently post a 4-1 victory at Heerenveen.
Team News
© Reuters
Jansen faces making at least two alterations to his AZ starting lineup with Myron van Brederode and Vangelis Pavlidis both picking up injuries on Thursday night.
Their replacements - Mexx Meerdink and Mayckel Lahdo - appear likely to take their spots in the team, and Jansen may wish to freshen his side up in other areas.
Wouter Goes and Riechedly Bazoer will be considered for recalls in central defence and central midfield respectively.
Oosting could also make changes to his RKC side after their fixture in midweek with Yassin Oukili an option in the middle of the pitch.
Florian Jozefzoon is also an alternative in the final third, depending on whether Oosting goes with a front two or three.
AZ Alkmaar possible starting lineup:
Ryan; Sugawara, Chatzidiakos, Beukema, Kerkez; Reijnders, Clasie; Odgaard, Mijnans, Lahdo; Meerdink
RKC Waalwijk possible starting lineup:
Vaessen; Gaari, Adewoye, Nieuwpoort; Lelieveld, Anita, Clement, Lutonda; Seuntjens, Kramer, Jozefzoon
We say: AZ Alkmaar 2-0 RKC Waalwijk
Given their hectic fixture schedule, AZ will not be as sharp as they could be for this fixture. However, they should still have too much quality in their ranks for RKC, whose inconsistency seems likely to continue.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Darren Plant
