Feyenoord play host to RKC Waalwijk on Sunday afternoon knowing that only a win will do if they wish to stay in contention for the Eredivisie title.
As it stands, the defending champions sit 10 points adrift of leaders PSV Eindhoven, while visitors RKC currently occupy 16th position in the standings.
Match preview
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Having accumulated 49 points from 21 league matches, Feyenoord cannot be disappointed with their return in the Eredivisie during 2023-24, particularly with greater European commitments.
Nevertheless, it will take something extraordinary to chase down PSV's 10-point lead with 13 matches left, with the next head-to-head at the Philips Stadion on March 3 potentially being pivotal.
Arne Slot's side are still on a 10-match undefeated run that has included six clean sheets, as well as reaching the semi-finals of the KNVB Beker.
While Feyenoord are favourites to win that competition, there is work to do in the Europa League having been held to a 1-1 draw with Roma in the first leg of their last-32 tie on Thursday.
Perhaps one cause of concern for Slot is that his Feyenoord side have failed to score more than twice in a single game for nine matches.
Over the last 10 games, RKC have failed to find the back of the net on just occasion, an impressive feat for a team that sits third from bottom.
However, it took a 2-0 victory over NEC last time out to end a run of eight games without success, with a first clean sheet also being kept since September.
Henk Fraser has won just five of his 22 fixtures in charge of RKC, losing on 14 occasions, and he is under no illusions that he must improve matters on a more consistent basis.
RKC make the trip to De Kuip having lost seven of their 10 away fixtures in the Eredivisie this campaign, scoring just seven goals.
Team News
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Santiago Gimenez was only fit enough to feature off the substitutes' bench for Feyenoord on Thursday and that may remain the case here.
Feyenoord are hopeful that Lutsharel Geertruida and Quinten Timber will be available for selection, although it is unclear whether they would be risked from the start.
Justin Bijlow, Gernot Trauner and Thomas van den Belt are all expected to remain sidelined through injury.
Barring any injury issues, Fraser is likely to select the same RKC starting lineup from the win over NEC.
David Min scored both goals during that fixture, taking his tally to three for the campaign, but midfielder Godfried Roemeratoe is serving the final game of a three-match suspension after a red card last month.
Feyenoord possible starting lineup:
Wellenreuther; Nieuwkoop, Beelen, Hancko, Hartman; Wieffer, Zerrouki; Minteh, Stengs, Paixao; Ueda
RKC Waalwijk possible starting lineup:
Vaessen; Lelieveld, Adewoye, Van den Buijs, Meijers; Felida, Oukili; Cleonise, Niemeijer, Lokesa; Min
We say: Feyenoord 2-0 RKC Waalwijk
Despite their superiority to most teams on the domestic scene, Feyenoord have not exactly been winning convincingly of late. That trend could continue here, yet the home side would be satisfied with a victory and clean sheet.
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Darren Plant
