VVV-Venlo will be looking to continue their recent resurgence when they take on NEC in the KNVB Beker on Wednesday evening.
While the visitors sit in 14th position in the Eredivisie standings, NEC are in sixth spot in the second tier ahead of this quarter-final tie.
Match preview
At the turn of the year, a cup run would not have been on VVV-Venlo's list of priorities as they battled to get out of trouble in the Eredivisie.
However, collecting 13 points from six matches has put a different spin on matters, the Yellow Black Army now as many as nine points above the bottom three.
Hans de Koning will stress that his players cannot afford to take their foot off the gas after their 3-2 defeat at the hands of Fortuna Sittard on January 30.
Nevertheless, they can now afford to name their strongest XI for this contest in a bid to take advantage of being handed a favourable draw.
This game represents VVV-Venlo's fourth KNVB Beker tie against opposition outside of the top flight, but they will have to work hard to earn a spot in the semi-finals.
NEC got the better of Sittard in the last round, overturning a 1-0 deficit to eventually prevail by a 3-2 scoreline after extra time.
Although Roger Meijer's side lost out at MVV at the weekend, NEC had previously put together a five-match unbeaten streak in all competitions.
Jordy Bruijn is the man to watch for NEC having scored nine goals this season, three of which have come in his last six outings.
NEC KNVB Beker form: W
NEC form (all competitions): WDWWWL
VVV-Venlo KNVB Beker form: WWW
VVV-Venlo form (all competitions): WDWWWL
Team News
Having not played since the end of January, De Koning could go with the players which started Venlo's defeat at Sittard.
That would see Georgios Gaikoumakis look to take his tally for the season to 22 goals with over half of his strikes coming in 2021.
Meritan Shabani could feature among the replacements having joined on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers.
NEC will have to make do without Dirk Proper after his red card versus MVV at the weekend.
Edgar Barreto could replace Proper in the centre of midfield, while Aymen Sellouf is pushing for a recall after his goal on Saturday.
NEC possible starting lineup:
Alblas; Van Rooij, Odenthal, Bukusu, El Karouani; Okita, Vet, Barreto, Bruijn; Beekman; Janga
VVV-Venlo possible starting lineup:
Kirschbaum; Pachonik, Gelmi, Graca, Guwara; Post, Crooij, Donis; Roemer, Giakoumakis, Machach
We say: NEC 1-3 VVV-Venlo
After defeating Sittard in the last round, NEC will be confident of causing another upset in this competition. However, we cannot look past the goalscoring form of the visitors, who should have enough firepower to win this contest in relatively comfortable fashion.
