PSV Eindhoven face a tough test at home to free-scoring Heerenveen while the Dutch Eredivisie's bottom four all go head-to-head this weekend.PSV are eight points clear at the top after their 2-0 win at AZ Alkmaar last weekend, however they will host a Heerenveen side who have won their past four matches including a 7-0 home drubbing of Vitesse last week.
Despite the loss of Brazilian striker Afonso Alves to Middlesbrough, Heerenveen continue to knock in the goals with 20-year-old American midfielder Michael Bradley leading the way with 12 in 21 league games.
Gertjan Verbeek's side have scored 19 goals in their previous four fixtures, conceding just once in the process - although all four games were against teams in the bottom half of the table.
PSV's form has been even more impressive having gone two months without dropping a point at home, while they have also also picked up vital wins against title rivals Ajax and Feyenoord.
Ajax will need to take all three points from their early game at Roda JC on Sunday to keep in touch with the leaders.
The Amsterdammers bounced back from their 2-0 defeat to PSV on January 30 with a 3-0 win at home to Feyenoord last week, but with Heerenveen just a point behind them the pressure is mounting.
And Ajax coach Adrie Koster believes last week's win over Feyenoord has helped his team turn their fortunes around, saying: "We kept the gap with PSV from getting wider. This gives us a lot of confidence."
Feyenoord will be aiming to keep in touch with the leaders on Saturday when they travel to 12th-placed De Graafschap - a team that have won just once in their past seven games.
The Rotterdammers' coach was left fuming at the defeat in Amsterdam and is keen for his side to return to winning ways.
"I have never experienced anything like it," he said. "We were humiliated."
At the other end of the table, basement boys Excelsior travel to fourth-bottom Sparta Rotterdam.
Excelsior caused an upset in January when they beat Feyenoord 2-1 at home, but have failed to win a game since then.
Victory could see them make up ground on fellow strugglers VVV and Willem II, who meet on Sunday.
In the other games, FC Twente host Heracles in a mid-table clash on Friday, while NAC Breda will look to extend their winning sequence to six games against FC Utrecht.
FC Groningen are just three points behind second-placed Ajax and travel to Vitesse Arnhem.
The final game on Sunday sees NEC Nijmegen host AZ Alkmaar.
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