With a place in the 2022-23 Eredivisie campaign on the line, ADO Den Haag and SBV Excelsior go head-to-head on Sunday in the second leg of their promotion playoff final at the Cars Jeans Stadion.
Off the back of a stalemate in the first leg, the tie remains finely poised heading into its conclusion this weekend.
Match preview
ADO Den Haag saw their four-game winning run snapped on Tuesday following a 1-1 draw against Excelsior at the Van Donge & De Roo Stadion.
Giovanni Franken's men trailed to Marouan Azarkan's opener a few minutes into the second half before a late equaliser from Sem Steijn restored parity.
Despite being in the ascendancy for the majority of the contest, De Ooievaars can count themselves lucky to not be behind heading into the return leg.
Now just 90 minutes away from returning to the top-flight since suffering relegation last year, Sunday's hosts set out to cap off what has been a topsy-turvy campaign on a high.
Excelsior were left feeling frustrated on Tuesday having thrown away a narrow lead in the dying embers of their first leg-clash against Den Haag.
The Kralingers adopted a more cautious approach after opening the scoring in the early exchanges of the second period and looked set to grind out the win before a late spanner was thrown into the works.
Marinus Dijkhuizen must now pick his side up as they look to regain promotion to the top tier of Dutch football after two years in the Eerste Divisie.
Sunday's visitors, who have won both of their previous two away outings in the promotion playoffs, now go in search of what would undoubtedly be their most important triumph on the road.
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Team News
Eljero Elia remains sidelined with a long-term ankle injury, and the Dutchman will not play any part for Den Haag on Sunday.
The home side will also be without the services of Luuk Koopmans, who is yet to feature since late January due to a shoulder problem.
Excelsior's Nikolas Agrafiotis is a doubt for this one after the forward was absent from the first leg through a knock.
Michael Chacon's involvement also currently hangs in the balance, as the 28-year-old was forced off with an injury against Heracles last Saturday.
Having netted in each of his last two appearances for the visitors, Marouan Azarkan is one to keep an eye on this weekend.
ADO Den Haag possible starting lineup:
Wentges; Kemper, Matthys, Amofa, Asante; Breinburg, Klas; Pires, Steijn, Rodriguez; Verheydt
SBV Excelsior possible starting lineup:
Van Gassel; Tjoe, El Yaakoubi, Horemans, Nieuwpoort; Azarkan, Wiffer, Eijgenraam, Goudmijn; Niemeijer, Dallinga
We say: ADO Den Haag 1-0 SBV Excelsior
Den Haag are a real force to reckon with on home turf, as they currently boast an eight-game home unbeaten run, winning five of those matches. We are backing them to emerge triumphant on Sunday and book their place in the 2022-23 Eredivisie season.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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