FC Twente have the perfect opportunity to get their Eredivisie title charge back on track this weekend as they travel to Vitesse Arnhem.
Having led the way for so long, Twente are now three points behind PSV Eindhoven at the top of the table after a crushing 3-0 defeat by Ajax last time around - their first loss of the season.
They travel to a Vitesse side who are coming off a defeat at VVV Venlo last time out and are without a win in three.
There is little margin for error for Twente, with PSV having won 12 of their last 13 Eredivisie matches.
They remain unbeaten this season - a record they will put on the line at Heracles on Sunday.
Heracles, riding high in fifth, had stuttered since the winter break but finally got their first win of 2010 under their belts last time out, beating FC Groningen 4-3.
Also on Sunday, FC Groningen will be without captain Koen van de Laak when they host rock bottom RKC Waalwijk.
The midfielder has suffered a setback in his recovery from an ankle injury. "It is a disappointment for me personally," he told www.fcgroningen.nl.
"I had hoped this weekend to be available.
"But I intend to be completely recovered before I play.
"I must be patient a little longer. "
Feyenoord, in a mini-league of their own in fourth with no other side within five points of them, head to FC Utrecht.
Feyenoord will hope to bounce back from their defeat by AZ Alkmaar last time out against a side who are in freefall - Utrecht are without a win in two months.
Sparta Rotterdam will hope to ease away from the relegation zone when they host VVV Venlo. Sparta's winless run in the league now stands at 10 games and they are just two points from the bottom three.
Ajax's win against Twente did little to boost their flagging title ambitions - they remain nine points off top spot.
The Amsterdam giants go to Heerenveen on Saturday on a run of six without a defeat and having scored seven goals in their last two games.
They beat the same opposition 5-1 at the Amsterdam ArenA earlier in the season.
Heerenveen have this week been linked with a possible move for Russia boss Guus Hiddink as their new coach at the end of the season.
AZ host Roda JC boosted by their win at Feyenoord last time out last weekend. AZ will be without Stijn Schaars, who is suspended after picking up his fifth booking of the season against Feyenoord.
Saturday's other game sees ADO Den Haag host Willem II, while NAC Breda, unbeaten in 2010, get the weekend fixtures under way when they travel to Nijmegen to face NEC on Friday. It is a run which has seen them rise to sixth in the table and they have Heracles in their sights.
