Preview: Heerenveen vs. Heracles - prediction, team news, lineups

Heerenveen have a great opportunity to end their five-game winless run as they host a Heracles side in very poor form.

Heracles are 13th, but are just one point clear of the relegation playoff zone and just two points from the automatic drop.

Match preview

Heerenveen enjoyed a fantastic start to the season, winning five of their first seven games and shooting up the table.

However, they have tailed off since, failing to win in any of their last five outings and drawing their last four in a row.

Their dip in form has seen them slide to eighth, but they are still just three points behind fifth-placed Groningen.

Sunday's opponents Heracles present a perfect opportunity to get Johnny Jansen's men back to winning ways.

Heracles are also on a five-game winless run, but have lost four of those five matches.

Frank Wormuth's side have won just twice this term, collecting only nine points from their opening 12 league games.

Heracles have particularly struggled for goals, scoring just 12 times so far - only RKC Waalwijk and ADO Den Haag have fewer.

Only two points separate them from the automatic relegation zone and Wormuth will be desperate to arrest his side's poor form.

Heerenveen Eredivisie form: WLDDDD

Heracles Eredivisie form: WLLLDL

Team News

Heerenveen boss Jansen doesn't have too much to be concerned about on the injury front ahead of Sunday's fixture.

Arjen van der Heide and Jan Ras are both doubts as they work their way back to full fitness.

Aside from that, however, Jansen has a fully-fit squad to pick from.

Heracles head coach Wormuth, on the other hand, has a trio of absentees.

Jeff Hardeveld, Noah Fadiga and Navajo Bakboord are all out until later this month and will not feature.

Heerenveen possible starting lineup: Mulder; Floranus, Van Hecke, Bochniewicz, Woudenberg; Kongolo, Meier, J Veerman; Nygren, H Veerman, Van Bergen

Heracles possible starting lineup: Blaswich; Breukers, Rente, Propper, Knoester, Quagliata; Schoofs, Kiomourtzoglou, Vloet, De la Torre; Szoke

We say: Heerenveen 2-1 Heracles

Heerenveen have struggled to find their best form in recent weeks, but Heracles are in such poor form that the hosts could finally get back to winning ways.

Top betting tip