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

Heracles will be aiming to avoid defeat number three on the spin when they entertain the challenge of Vitesse at the Erve Asito on Saturday.

Vitesse, meanwhile, head to Almelo on a four-game losing streak across all competitions, which has left them with work to do in the battle for top-flight survival.

Match preview

Heracles were guilty of throwing away a lead for the second game running as they fell to a 3-1 defeat against NEC at Stadion de Goffert on Saturday.

John Lammers's men edged ahead through Jizz Hornkamp's early strike but were pegged back five minutes into the second half by Koki Ogawa before goals from Ogawa and Tjarron Chery completed the turnaround.

As a result, the Heraclieden have dropped down to seventh place in the Eredivisie table, three points clear of the chasing pack in the race for the final European spot.

On the menu next is the task of facing off against an opposing outfit who are without defeat in the most recent seven editions of this fixture.

Heading into this weekend's encounter with the worst defensive home record in the division, Saturday's hosts simply cannot afford any lapses at the back as they go in search of a first win in front of their fans since October.

Vitesse saw their KNVB Beker journey come to an end at the hands of SC Cambuur in a 3-1 defeat at the Cambuur Stadion on Wednesday.

Edward Sturing's men went into the break trailing to Milan Smit's opener but managed to level matters through Anis Hadj Moussa before late goals from Fedde De Jong and Smit decided the tie.

Prior to that, Geel en Zwart were beaten 2-0 by Go Ahead Eagles and remain rooted to the bottom of the league standings, seven points away from safety.

Off the back of seven away defeats in a row, Saturday's visitors have it all to do as they look to avoid another fruitless outing on the road.

Team News

Miliano Jonathans is ruled out due to a long-term knee problem which has seen him fail to feature for Vitesse since the final week of October.

Twenty-one-year-old Fode Fofana has made just three appearances for the away side due to a damaged knee and is still a long way off making his return to action.

Eighteen-year-old Diego van Oorschot is still sidelined for Heracles with a broken leg, while Sava-Arangel Cestic continues to nurse an ankle problem

The home side will also have to make do with the absence of Navajo Bakboord and Lasse Wehmeyer, but the latter is not far off making his comeback.

Dutchman Jizz Hornkamp has found the back of the net in four of his last five appearances, making him one to keep a close watch on here.

Heracles possible starting lineup: Brouwer; Oppegard, Hoogma, Sonnenberg, Bultman, Wieckhoff; Hansson, De Keersmaecker, Vejinovic, Bruijn; Hornkamp

Vitesse possible starting lineup: Room; Arcus, Isimat-Mirin, Hendriks, Pinto; Domgjoni, Cornelisse; De Regt, Kozlowski, Boutrah; Meerdink

We say: Heracles 2-1 Vitesse

With two of the Eredivisie's leakiest defences going head-to-head, we are anticipating an open contest with goals at both ends. That said, we are tipping Heracles to emerge triumphant come the end of the 90 minutes.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.