Eredivisie round 20

NEC v Sparta
AZ v Groningen
NAC v VVV Venlo
Den Haag v Heerenveen
Feyenoord v Ajax
Utrecht v Heracles
Twente v Roda
Vitesse v PSV

All eyes on De Kuip on Sunday morning for another Classic. Ajax are in Rotterdam for the latest instalment of this long-running feud. Well, the Ajax players will be. As usual, their fans won't be travelling. And yet it's hard to get properly excited about this one with Ajax remote in third and Feyenoord even more remote in fourth. The Rotterdammers can close to within a point of their bitter rivals with a win and go into this as the first side to beat PSV in 39 straight matches after a 2-0 win in the KNVB Beker in midweek. For their part, Ajax have been less than their swashbuckling best of late. 50 goals in the first half the season set them up for a stunning total, but since hitting the half century, they've not hit the heights in the league. Luis Suarez has signed a contract extension which at least staves off transfer talk for now and while Dutch national keeper Maarten Stekelenburg missed the home win over AZ last week, they have another international in Kenneth Vermeer - stunning last week - to deputise.

Twente need to get back to winning ways before PSV are over the hill and far away. The Eindhoveners have to do something they haven't done for almost a year this week and that's bounce back from a loss, but even given that they're away from home and Vitesse are improving, it's difficult to see them slipping up. The Tukkers have seen a four-point swing to PSV since the resumption and now lie two behind the leaders following successive goalless draws. The cup has been kinder though and they took out their frustrations on Sparta, battering them 4-0 with Kenneth Perez getting two. Roda aren't pushovers, but this is one you'd expect Twente to win. If not, then maybe the rot has set in.

Rock bottom Waalwijk get the round started on Friday night away at second-bottom Willem II. Should RKC win, then they'll be off the bottom for the first time all season, leapfrogging their opponents. It's difficult to see that happening, even given the Tilburger's lack of form. Den Haag also start the weekend in the bottom three and they have a tough game against improving Heerenveen. NEC and Sparta are both struggling for form and face off in Nijmegen while there's a clash of European hopefuls in Utrecht with Heracles the visitors. Utrecht should have Jacob Mulenga back from Africa Cup of Nations duty, which will help, while Heracles suffered a setback a week ago and need to get back to winning ways. Both these sides will be looking to capitalise on any slip by Feyenoord above them. NAC are also in the European frame and lie five points clear of their nearest challenger, VVV Venlo, who they coincidentally face this week. If VVV are to cap their return to the Eredivisie with a shot at the Europa Cup, then this is a must-win. Expect a draw.