Two sides operating at opposing ends of the Eredivisie table come together on Sunday afternoon as Champions League-hunting FC Twente take on already-relegated FC Volendam at De Grolsch Veste.
While the visitors' relegation has been confirmed, the hosts are still very much battling to finish in the top three and secure Champions League qualification.
Match preview
FC Twente have found themselves operating within the top three for a large majority of the season but this status is now in doubt with just two games remaining of this year's Eredivisie.
A potentially pivotal match last time out saw them face fourth-placed AZ Alkmaar in a game that had the potential for Joseph Oosting's men to confirm their place in the top three, but a 2-1 loss has instead seen the gap to fourth close to just two points.
Fortunately for Twente they hold two much more favourable fixtures with games against two sides in the bottom half of the table, while AZ Alkmaar are set to face two teams within the top eight.
Oosting's side are at home for this upcoming encounter with Volendam, and they have been fantastic in front of their fans this season, picking up 40 points from a possible 48 - the second-most of any side in the division.
The visitors come into this game on the back of the disappointment of being relegated last weekend having lost 4-1 to Ajax, seeing them drop back into the Eerste Divisie after just two years in the top flight.
While their relegation has been confirmed, Regillio Simons's team will be hoping to earn a sense of pride in their final two matches, but with their away record seeing them win just one game on the road they come into this one as extreme underdogs.
Volendam have also struggled against Twente in recent meetings, losing in all of their last three visits to De Grolsch Veste and winning just one of the past seven meetings between the two across all competitions.
With just one win in the 16 competitive matches they have played since the turn of the year, Volendam will have little confidence as they prepare for their trip to face the current third-placed side.
Team News
The hosts have just the one injury concern heading into this crucial match in their push for third place as Michel Vlap is likely to remain sidelined.
Outside of that, Oosting is unlikely to make many changes from the side that fell to defeat to AZ Alkmaar.
In stark contrast, the visitors are set to be without up to eight players for this one.
Robert Muhren, Garang Kuol, Bilal Ould-Chikh, Bram van Driel, Joey Antonioli, Diego Gustavo and Vivaldo are all out with injury.
Xavier Mbuyamba is also out with heart problems.
FC Twente possible starting lineup:
Unnerstall; Brenet, Hilgers, Propper, Smal; Eiting, Regeer; Rots, Steijn, Unuvar; Wolfswinkel
FC Volendam possible starting lineup:
Backhaus; Mirani, Flint, Dujil; Buur, Cox, Maulun, Plat; Booth, Semedo, Johnson
We say: FC Twente 3-0 FC Volendam
The hosts have been extremely successful in this matchup in recent times, including a 3-0 win in this fixture last season, and we fancy them to impose their superiority once again here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
