Samsunspor will welcome Kayserispor to the Samsun 19 Mayis Stadium in the Super Lig in one of the biggest games in the club's history on Saturday night.
The hosts can seal third place with a win, and in doing so guaranteeing league phase football in a UEFA competition next season, which will bring era-defining funds into the club in just their second season back in the top flight.
Match preview
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Prior to this season, Samsunspor had played just two top-flight campaigns in the past 20 years, but they are on the cusp of a lofty third-place finish following a memorable and historic season for Thomas Reis's men.
They are already guaranteed their best ever finish in the top flight regardless of what happens, but if they can hold Besiktas off, they will enter the Europa League at the playoff round, meaning even if they were to lose at that stage, they would drop into the league phase of the Conference League.
Finishing fourth would still be a phenomenal achievement, but it would see them enter the Europa League two full rounds of qualifying earlier, drastically reducing their chances of making it through all the way.
Reis and his players will have Rizespor to thank partly if they do finish third, because Besiktas's defeat to them last week means Samsunspor retained their spot in the table, despite drawing at Trabzonspor.
Anything but a win for Besiktas against already-relegated Bodrumspor will see Samsunspor finish third, but if the Istanbul giants are victorious, Reis's men must win, due to the inferior head-to-head record they have with BJK.
The pressure has certainly not got to Samsunspor though, because prior to the respectable draw at Trabzonspor, they had won three in a row to leapfrog Besiktas into third, and they are now the favourites to enter the Europa League playoffs.
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Kayserispor have the opportunity to spoil that opportunity, and Sergej Jakirovic's men cannot be taken lightly either, as they are ending the season brilliantly, moving a long way clear of the relegation zone.
The visitors start the weekend 12th, but could still finish as high as seventh, and they will fancy their chances at moving further up the standings, considering they have taken 18 points from their last nine matches.
Galatasaray are the only team to have beaten Jakirovic's side since March, but knowing they were already safe may have contributed to the fact they only managed a draw with Bodrumspor a week ago.
Form on the road has been concerning all season, with their home form being the reason why they moved away from trouble, because Kayserispor have taken just seven points from their last 11 matches away from the Kadir Has Stadium.
Team News
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Samsunspor have just one player out injured and that is 19-year-old Muhammet Ozbaskici, but Landry Dimata's booking last weekend means he will miss the season finale through suspension.
Marius Mouandilmadji has not started any of the last four games for Samsunspor, but he has come off the bench and scored twice during that run, moving into double figures once again, after also managing that feat in his debut campaign with the club a year ago, and the Chad striker could be rewarded with a start here in place of the suspended Dimata.
Kayserispor will have Bilal Bayazit available after a ban, but both Gokhan Sazdagi and Carlos Mane are suspended after being cautioned in the draw with Bodrumspor a week ago.
Mehdi Bourabia, Ali Karimi and Hasan Ali Kaldirim all missed that draw last time out, and could well be absent again, alongside Yaw Ackah and Stephane Bahoken, who have been longer-term casualties.
Samsunspor possible starting lineup:
Kocuk; Yavru, Satka, Van Drongelen, Bola; Ntcham, Ait Bennasser, Holse; Schindler, Marius, Kilinc
Kayserispor possible starting lineup:
Piri; Civelek, Hosseini, Attamah, Carole; Gezek, Kayra Yilmaz, Ozbek; Nazon, Sariarslan Cardoso
We say: Samsunspor 2-1 Kayserispor
It will be a momentous day in Samsunspor's history if they are able to take all three points here, and a joyous European adventure will await, so many neutrals in Turkey, as well as fans of the Istanbul clubs, will certainly be rooting for them over Besiktas.
Kayserispor should offer a stern test, but the visitors have not enjoyed much recent success against Samsunspor, losing the reverse back in January, and in this fixture last season, both without scoring.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Andrew Delaney
