An Injury-depleted Netherlands plays Sweden on Tuesday in a European Championship qualifier between the remaining sides with perfect records in Group E.
The match in Amsterdam will be a homecoming of sorts for Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who played for Ajax before moving to Italy, Spain and back to Italy.
The Netherlands knows that controlling the tall striker, who has already scored five goals in seven matches for AC Milan this season, will be key to making it four wins in as many qualifiers.
Center back John Heitinga, who played with Ibrahimovic at Ajax, said defenders must be "strong, but also smart" to keep him at bay and preventing Sweden making it three wins out of three.
"Zlatan is a big, strong striker, but also an athletic and skillful striker," he said. "He's no longer the Zlatan I played with at Ajax, he has developed his game in Italy and can now be decisive for teams."
The Netherlands, meanwhile, boasts its own decisive striker in Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, who is the top scorer so far in Euro 2012 qualification with six goals from three games.
Huntelaar moved to Schalke this season and is playing regularly after frustrating spells at Real Madrid and AC Milan where he spent most of his time on the bench.
He now has 22 goals in 39 internationals, just two short of Marco van Basten's tally of 24. Patrick Kluivert is the all-time top Dutch scorer with 40 goals.
"I'm feeling good," Huntelaar said. "I'm playing the full 90 minutes and that boosts your confidence."
Huntelaar has been coach Bert van Marwijk's first-choice striker since Arsenal forward Robin van Persie injured his left ankle early in the season. Van Perise was the starting striker during the Netherlands' run to the World Cup final, even though he struggled to find his scoring touch in South Africa.
Van Persie and Bayern Munich winger Arjen Robben lead a list of six injured players for the Netherlands. Defensive midfielder Nigel de Jong also is out of the team, dropped by Van Marwijk a week ago after his tackle on Hatem Ben Arfa broke the Newcastle winger's left leg in two places.
Tottenham midfielder Rafael van der Vaart slotted into De Jong's spot in midfield on Friday night in the Netherlands' 1-0 win in Moldova and provided the pass for Huntelaar to score the game's only goal.
"It's very important that we beat Sweden," Huntelaar said. "It won't be easy at all because in Ibrahimovic, they have someone who can decide matches."
Sweden winger Emir Bajrami will miss the match after injuring his foot during FC Twente's Champions League game at Tottenham two weeks ago.
Andreas Granqvist is likely to take Olof Mellberg's place in the Swedish defense. Mellberg will be suspended following his red card in Sweden's 6-0 win against San Marino.
