Having recently seen their winning run come to an end, Sparta Rotterdam play host to Groningen at the Sparta Stadion Het Kasteel on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the visitors go in search of consecutive wins for the first time this season off the back of securing all three points last time out.
Match preview
Sparta Rotterdam were unable to record a third straight victory following a comprehensive 3-0 defeat against Feyenoord at De Kuip on Sunday.
Maurice Steijn's men found themselves two down at the interval thanks to strikes from Orkun Kokcu and Javairo Dilrosun before Santiago Gimenez sealed the deal in the 73rd minute.
As a result, De Rood-Witte Gladiatoren have dropped down to 11th place in the league table but are just a point outside the top half.
Awaiting them next is the challenge of an opposing outfit who failed to emerge triumphant in any of last season's meetings between the teams.
Ahead of the first international break of the season, Saturday's hosts will be keen to get back to winning ways before they return to action in October.
Groningen recorded a first win in three outings as they narrowly saw off the threat of Cambuur in a 1-0 triumph at the Cambuur Stadion on Sunday.
Frank Wormuth's men had their backs against the walls for the majority of the contest before delivering a sucker punch through Tomas Suslov in the 71st minute.
Trots van het Noorden have now moved up to ninth place in the Eredivisie standings, one point and two places ahead of this weekend's opponents.
Having recently ended a five-game domestic winless run on the road, Saturday's visitors now set out to secure back to back league victories away from home for the first time since the turn of the year.
- D
- L
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- W
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- D
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Team News
Sparta's Tim Coremans will not play any part in this one as he continues to battle with a shoulder problem which has kept him out since July.
Tobias Lauritsen is a doubt for this weekend's hosts after the Norwegian was forced off with a first-half injury in the defeat to Feyenoord.
Jan Hoekstra remains without an outing for the away side since January due to a shoulder problem, and the goalkeeper is expected to be unavailable for this one.
Twenty-year-old Tomas Suslov will be looking to deliver the goods once again having opened his Groningen account for this season last time out.
Sparta Rotterdam possible starting lineup:
Olij; Micha, Auassar, Vriends, Sambo; Kitolano, De Guzman, Mijnans; Namli, Saito, Van Crooy
Groningen possible starting lineup:
Verrips; Kasanwirjo, Te Wierik, Balker, Dybvik; Duarte, Pelupessy, Valente; Abraham, Suslov, Kruger
We say: Sparta Rotterdam 2-1 Groningen
Groningen have been highly porous at the back away from home, and Sparta will be aiming to take advantage of their visitors' defensive frailties. We are tipping the hosts to come out on top, albeit by only a narrow margin.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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