Heracles make the trip south to Fortuna Sittard in the Eredivisie's weekend opener on Friday night.
Both sides are in very poor form and have slipped down the standings in recent weeks after respective winless streaks.
Match preview
Fortuna, the league's joint-lowest scorers, have failed to build on a very promising start that saw them in the European places earlier in the campaign.
Scoring just eight goals in their 11 Eredivisie matches this season has contributed to their downfall, as they now find themselves just two points above the drop zone.
Danny Buijs's men were unbeaten after five matches, winning twice and claiming very notable draws against Ajax and away to champions Feyenoord.
Nine points in those opening games had fans hopeful of a positive campaign, but they have taken just one point from their last six games, causing a rapid slide.
Sittard can be forgiven slightly for struggling of late though, considering four of those five defeats in that time were away from home, including games at AZ Alkmaar and a PSV Eindhoven side who have won all 11 games so far.
Floating around the bottom half is nothing new for Sittard either, as they have been perennial survivors since promotion in 2018, only narrowly avoiding the drop in almost every season.
Visitors Heracles have had a similar season to their upcoming hosts, as a good start preceded a tough run.
Heracles' downturn has been much sharper though, as a 6-0 hammering at the hands of PSV on home soil last weekend was their third defeat in a row without scoring.
After a 3-0 defeat to Heerenveen in their previous league meeting before that, an embarrassing KNVB Beker defeat was sandwiched in between, as Heracles crashed out to amateur side Hardenberg.
The Almelo-based club won six in a row, conceding just once, to claim the Eerste Divisie title last season, but they are now finding it much tougher at the top.
Taking 11 points from their opening seven games suggested they may seamlessly take to top-flight football on their return, but collecting just one point from a possible 12 since has seen them plummet down the table.
With four points separating ninth and bottom, and with Ajax improving after a shockingly poor start, the entire bottom half may well be embroiled in a relegation battle soon, as they are seemingly becoming cut adrift from the Europa Conference League playoff positions.
Heracles slipped into the bottom half last weekend on goal difference due to the manner of their defeat, and John Lammers's men have the worst defensive record in the division, having conceded 28 goals in their 11 matches so far.
Team News
Loreintz Rosier went off late on for Sittard in their defeat at Zwolle last weekend, so the Frenchman is a doubt for this clash.
The hosts will hope they can recall Oguzhan Ozyakup to the matchday squad should Rosier miss out, after the former Turkish international missed the last two league outings.
Inigo Cordoba is the other injury concern for Buijs heading into this must-win encounter.
Heracles will be without Justin Hoogma following his red card inside 20 minutes against PSV last week.
Jizz Hornkamp (ankle) and Nikolai Laursen (knee) will face late fitness tests ahead of this clash, and it is likely both will miss out.
Sylian Mokono and Abdenego Nankishi are currently available for the away side, and an unfortunate leg break for youngster Diego van Oorschot means he will be out until March.
Fortuna Sittard possible starting lineup:
Pandur; Ivo Pinto, Guth, Siovas, Dijks; Duarte, Ferati, Halilovic; Griffith, Sierhuis, Lazetic
Heracles possible starting lineup:
Brouwer; Bakboord, Sonnenberg, Cestic, Willems; De Keersmaecker, Bruns, Ouahim; Vejinovic, Engels, Hansson
We say: Fortuna Sittard 1-1 Heracles
In an encounter between a pair of sides who have both failed to record a league win in over a month, a cagey encounter could be on the cards as both will hope to end that barren run, but they will also bring some fear of another defeat into the game.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
