Feyenoord head in Saturday's Eredivisie fixture against bottom-of-the-table Emmen requiring all three points if they are to remain in the race for Champions League qualification.
While the home side sit eight points adrift of second spot, the visitors are seven points behind 16th-placed Willem II despite enjoying their best period of the campaign.
Match preview
Sitting 16 points adrift of Ajax and having played a game more than the leaders, Feyenoord will be disappointed with their form during the 2020-21 campaign.
While achieving a top-two spot would have been the target in September, Dick Advocaat's side have been left to make sure of a place in next season's Europa League.
Advocaat has been left encouraged by the 1-1 draw at PSV Eindhoven last weekend, but their current focus will be fending off the challenge of Groningen over the coming weeks.
Top goalscorer Steven Berghuis has improved in recent games, contributing two goals and three assists during his last three outings.
However, with just one victory being recorded in five contests, Feyenoord need more from the forward and his teammates in the final third.
As far as Emmen are concerned, there is growing belief at a club which has followed a 22-match winless streak with eight points from four fixtures.
Dick Lukkien's side still have plenty of work ahead if they are to avoid relegation to the second tier but even remaining in contention at this stage deserves to be praised.
Emmen were good value for their point against Groningen on March 13, a result which maintained a run of conceding one goal per game over their last six fixtures.
Although Emmen will eventually require something extra in the final third, keeping things tight at the back will retain hope of achieving one of the most unlikely survivals in top-flight history.
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Team News
Having switched to five at the back last weekend, Advocaat will almost certainly revert to four players in defence for this game.
Leroy Fer could come back into the team at the expense of Uros Spajic in what may be the only alteration to the Feyenoord XI.
Barring any late fitness issues, Lukkien is expected to stick with the team which impressed against Groningen.
Nikolai Laursen will be in contention for a recall if Lukkien opts to introduce a fresh face in attack.
Feyenoord possible starting lineup:
Marsman; Geertruida, Botteghin, Senesi, Malacia; Kokcu, Fer, Toornstra; Berghuis, Linssen, Sinisterra
Emmen possible starting lineup:
Verrips; Bijl, Araujo, Bakker, Veendrop; Vlak, Bernadou; Frei, Pena, Adzic; De Leeuw
We say: Feyenoord 3-1 Emmen
Having earned a draw at Groningen last time out, few people will be completely dismissing Emmen ahead of this contest. Nevertheless, the home side should have far too much quality in the final third, leading us to predict a comfortable win.
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