Rio Ave square off against Boavista on Sunday evening looking for the result which would keep the club in the top half of the Primeira Liga standings.
However, 15th-placed Boavista sit just three points adrift of their hosts, giving them the opportunity to make significant headway up the table.
Match preview
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There will be some who feel that Rio Ave have done well to remain as high as ninth place after the manner of their Europa League exit to AC Milan in October.
Nevertheless, Mario Silva will have ambitions to return to the competition next year, putting the pressure on his players to improve over the coming weeks.
Just four goals have been scored in half a dozen league fixtures with 256 minutes having passed since their last goal from open play.
That return has left Rio Ave with the second-worst attacking record in the division, something which appeared unlikely when performing so well against Besiktas and Milan earlier in the campaign.
On the plus side, Chelsea loanee Lucas Piazon has found a home at Estadio dos Arcos as he bids to earn a permanent move at the end of the season.
Despite their surprise 3-0 triumph over Benfica last month, Boavista are yet to find any kind of consistency under Vasco Seabra.
Four draws have kept the club outside of the relegation zone, the latest stalemate coming at home to Belenenses on Sunday.
However, despite the majority of their points coming from the most recent four fixtures, a negative result at the weekend could leave Os Axadrezados in bottom spot.
Failure to score against Belenenses ended Angel Gomes's three-match scoring streak for his new side.
Rio Ave Primeira Liga form: DLWWDL
Rio Ave form (all competitions): LWWDWL
Boavista Primeira Liga form: DLDWLD
Boavista form (all competitions): LDWLWD
Team News
Ivo Pinto is back in contention for Rio Ave, leaving Silva with options at right-back.
Bruno Moreira could also get a run out in attack, potentially as a replacement for Piazon.
Seabra is expected to make a change to his Boavista frontline with Yusupha and Alberth Elis both hopeful of a recall.
Paulinho and Yanis Hamache may recover from injuries in time to take a spot on the substitutes' bench.
Rio Ave possible starting lineup:
Kieszek; Pinto, Borevkovic, Santos, Amaral; Pele, Augusto, Lopes; Moreira, Dala, Mane
Boavista possible starting lineup:
Jardim; Cannon, Rami, Awaziem, Hamache; Show, Garcia; Sauer, Santos, Gomes; Elis
We say: Rio Ave 2-1 Boavista
Despite the difference in league placings, we expect a competitive encounter at the weekend. However, Boavista have already conceded nine times on their travels this season, giving Rio Ave the chance to finally click into gear in the final third this weekend.
