AZvs.Vitesse

The visitor, meanwhile, will be looking to return to winning ways after taking just one point from their last three matches.

Match preview

Having collected 49 points from 26 Eredivisie matches, AZ currently sit in fourth position and a qualification spot for the Europa League qualifying rounds.

While they are currently on course to match last season's fourth-place finish, they are still firmly in the race to secure a top-three spot, with four points separating them from Twente in third position.

Maarten Martens's side carried significant momentum into the international break, recording 4-0 victories over both Excelsior and Volendam.

As a result of those strong defensive displays, AZ have now kept 10 clean sheets in the top flight this season - a tally that has only been bettered by Feyenoord and PSV Eindhoven.

AZ recorded one of those shutouts in September's reverse fixture against Vitesse, where Vangelis Pavlidis netted a second-half brace to lead his team to a 2-0 victory.

At the bottom end of the Eredivisie table, Vitesse have a real fight on their hands to extend their 35-year stay in the top flight.

Having mustered 17 points from their 26 matches, they are languishing in the automatic relegation places with five points separating them from safety.

Edward Sturing's side will be desperate to spark an upturn in form after winning just one of their last 11 league matches.

They did at least manage to salvage a point in their final game before the international break, with Anis Hadj Moussa netting an 87th-minute equaliser to ensure the home meeting with Almere City finished in a 1-1 draw.

If they are to spring a surprise and claim all three points on Saturday, the visitors will need to beat AZ in an away league game for the first time since December 2009.

AZ Alkmaar Eredivisie form:

D

W

W

D

W

W

Vitesse Eredivisie form:

L

D

W

L

L

D

Team News

AZ Alkmaar are unable to call upon the services of Denso Kasius and Mayckel Lahdo due to their respective injury issues.

There are also doubts surrounding the availability of goalkeeper Sem Westerveld and defender Bruno Martins Indi.

Pavlidis, who is currently leading the Eredivisie scoring charts, will be looking to add to the 23 league goals he has scored this season.

As for the away side, midfielder Melle Meulensteen is expected to miss a second consecutive game through injury.

The visitors are also likely to be without Miliano Jonathans, Davy Propper and Fode Fofana due to their respective fitness issues.

Left-back Mica Pinto is also a doubt after he was forced off in the first half of Luxembourg's qualifying playoff semi-final against Georgia.

AZ Alkmaar possible starting lineup:

Ryan; Sugawara, Goes, Bazoer, Wolfe; Belic, Clasie; Mijnans, De Wit, Van Bommel; Pavlidis

Vitesse possible starting lineup:

Room; Arcus, Isimat-Mirin, Oroz, Hendriks; Aaronson, Tielemans, Kozlowski; Hadj Moussa, Boutrah, Meerdink

We say: AZ Alkmaar 3-1 Vitesse

Previews by email