Saturday's Eredivisie action will get underway at Mandemakers Stadion, where RKC Waalwijk and Heerenveen will face off in a battle for a crucial three points.
RKC are on the verge of relegation, rooted to the bottom of the table with just 19 points, while Heerenveen are in eighth place with 40 points, seven behind Go Ahead Eagles.
Match preview
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This match carries immense significance for RKC Waalwijk, who are six points adrift of Willem II in the Eredivisie relegation playoff spot with just three games remaining - a gap that leaves them with no margin for error as they fight to preserve their top-flight status.
However, given their dismal run of form - winless in their last nine top-flight outings, including seven defeats and two draws - many have already written off RKC's chances of staging a late escape.
Their struggles were laid bare in brutal fashion last weekend, suffering a humbling 6-1 defeat to FC Groningen - their heaviest loss of the season - which came on the heels of a 4-0 drubbing by FC Utrecht, meaning RKC have now shipped 10 goals in their last two matches alone.
Unfortunately, RKC's difficulties extend beyond the pitch, as head coach Henk Fraser and technical director Mo Allach are both set to depart at the end of the season, raising serious questions over the club's long-term vision and leadership.
The hosts' home form has offered little refuge, with the Waalwijk side winless in their last four games at the Mandemakers Stadion (W0 D1 L3), and perhaps more alarmingly, goalless in each of their previous three home matches.
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In contrast, Heerenveen will arrive in Waalwijk with a sense of purpose, as the expanded allocation of up to nine European spots for Eredivisie clubs next season has opened a pathway to continental competition for them.
De Superfriezen will also be buoyed by a confidence-boosting 1-0 victory over NEC last weekend, where Ion Nicolaescu coolly converted a penalty early in the second half to secure all three points to keep their European ambitions very much alive.
That win marked Heerenveen's third victory in their last four matches - a notable turnaround in form following a difficult stretch in which they managed just two wins from the previous 11 top-flight games.
However, Robin Veldman has yet to win an away game since taking charge, with his side currently on a three-match losing streak on the road, winless in their last five away fixtures, and having managed just two victories in 15 outings all season.
Team News
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One of the few bright spots in RKC's heavy defeat to Groningen was Godfried Roemeratoe, who came off the bench to score his first goal of the season, and his impact could earn him a place in the starting lineup this week.
The hosts are likely to be without at least four key players for this weekend's clash with Heerenveen, as injuries have sidelined Yanick van Osch, Daouda Weidmann, Dario Van Den Buijs, and Luuk Wouters.
Heerenveen will have to cope without midfielder Luuk Brouwers, who is suspended for the trip to Waalwijk after receiving his fifth yellow card of the season last week, triggering an automatic one-match ban.
Midfielder Mats Kohlert is also out for this match due to a suspension for the red card he was shown against Almere City, while Pawel Bochniewicz and Jordy de Wijs are ruled out through injury.
RKC Waalwijk possible starting lineup:
Spenkelink; Al Mazyani, Lelieveld, Van Gelderen, Van Eijma, Familia-Castillo; Van de Loo, Lokesa, Oukili; Kramer, Margaret
Heerenveen possible starting lineup:
Noppert; Braude, Kersten, Hopland, Petrov; Linday, Van Ee; Trenskow, Smans, Sebaoui, Nicolaescu
We say: RKC Waalwijk 1-2 Heerenveen
With RKC Waalwijk in dismal form both home and away, and being weighed down by off-field uncertainty and defensive frailties, they face an uphill battle against a Heerenveen side chasing a European place.
While Heerenveen's away record is very poor this season, they are the better side right now, and we feel they will be able to edge this contest.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Devesh Jaganath
