Preview: ADO Den Haag vs. RKC Waalwijk - prediction, team news, lineups

After picking up two league wins in a row, RKC Waalwijk will be looking to pull further away from relegation danger when they visit ADO Den Haag on Saturday.

Saturday's hosts have not won any of their last eight league games and as a result, they find themselves in the lower echelons of the Eredivisie table as the season enters into its final third.

Match preview

© Reuters

RKC Waalwijk ended a 10-game winless run courtesy of a 1-0 win over Emmen a fortnight ago, and they have now followed that up with an impressive 3-0 win over Heracles on Sunday.

Fred Grim's men took control of proceedings in the opening exchanges as goals from Ola John and Lennerd Daneels put them in the driving seat.

Richard van der Venne added a third with 15 minutes left on the clock, capping off an excellent display at the Mandemakers Stadion.

That result has taken RKC eight points clear of trouble, and they will now aim to put more daylight between themselves and the teams fighting for their lives.

Den Haag were held to a draw for the fourth time in six games as they played out a 1-1 stalemate away at Willem II, who are also involved in the battle for survival.

Ruud Brood's men had the chance to go above their hosts on the day, and they were on course to do so after going a goal and a man up.

However, Jordens Peters's horrendous 15-minute spell in which he gave away a penalty and got himself sent off ultimately cost his side two priceless points.

De Ooievaars remain bottom but one on the log, adrift of safety by eight points which could potentially become five depending on whether they manage to win on Saturday.

A victory for Den Haag would also complete a league double over their visitors, after they won last month's reverse fixture 1-0.

ADO Den Haag Eredivisie form: DLDDLD

RKC Waalwijk Eredivisie form: LLDDWW

Team News

Den Haag will have to deal with the absence of Peet Bijen, who pulled up in his side's KNVB-Beker triumph over Sparta Rotterdam in October.

Daryl Janmaat is also ruled out with a knee injury, but he is not far off a return to action after spending the last seven weeks on the sidelines.

Cyril Ngonge was an unused substitute last time out following his recovery from a muscle tear that had kept him out since December.

Morad El Haddouti is still unfit to play due to an ankle injury which he picked up in November when he was beginning to come to the fore.

Finn Stokkers is the visitors' top scorer but he has not scored a league goal in nine matches since the turn of the year, and now is as good a time as any to end that drought.

ADO Den Haag possible starting lineup:
Koopman; Familio-Castillo, Kemper, Del Fabro, Van Ewijk; Pinas, Vejinovic, Pinas; Bourard, Kramer, Besuijen

RKC Waalwijk possible starting lineup:
Lamprou; Quasten, Touba, Meulensteen, Bakari; Azhil, Van Der Venne, Tahiri; Oosting, Stokkers, Daneels

We say: ADO Den Haag 1-2 RKC Waalwijk

RKC Waalwijk will have their tails up for this one as a win here could all but secure their top-flight status, and we are backing them to get the job done against a Den Haag side who are struggling at the moment.