Rotterdam, Holland (My Sportsbook) - Feyenoord are traditionally looked at as one of the big three in Holland, along with PSV and Ajax. This season, Erwin Koeman's club have endured plenty of ups and downs on their way to a fifth-place spot in the Eredivisie this season, and will try to improve on that position when they host city rivals Sparta on Saturday.

After fighting their way through a sluggish start, Feyenoord have won seven of their last nine league games, putting themselves back in the top five and within striking distance of second-place AZ. The Rotterdam club is 14 points adrift of league-leaders PSV, making a run at the title unlikely. However, a spot in the Champions League next season is well within reach. With three games to go before the brief winter break, Feyenoord will be trying to position itself for a run at the coveted European spot in the second half.

Koeman's lineup will not include goalkeeper Patrick Lodewijks, who will miss out with an Achilles problem, while Romeo Castelen (ankle), Pieter Collen (shoulder) and Karim Saidi (knee) will also be relegated to the role of spectator. Defender Serginho Greene will be a game-time decision.

On a positive note for Feyenoord, playmaking midfielder Alfred Schreuder could return from a 16-month layoff to make an appearance. Schreuder has missed the past 16 months with a knee injury.

The home side is coming off of a 2-1 loss at Utrecht last weekend, and anything less than three points on Saturday will be a disappointment.

Sparta, meanwhile, languished at the bottom of the table in the early part of the season, but have since lifted themselves out of the basement and three points clear of relegation in 14th place.

The visitors will be without the services of striker Yuri Rose, who is battling muscle issues, and midfielder Sani Kaita, who is struggling with a groin problem. Midfielder Edwin van Bueren will be available after serving a suspension.

On Friday, FC Groningen took-out Heracles Almelo 1-0 at the Polman Stadion courtesy of a 62-minute tally from Goran Lovre.

In other play on Saturday in Holland, Heerenveen, sixth-place in the standings, host Excelsior, NAC and Den Haag get together in a matchup of bottom-half clubs and PSV try to maintain their seven-point cushion at the top when they host Willem II.

On Sunday, Twente travel to Roda in an attempt to move into the top three, Ajax sit third in the table and visit a middle of the standings Vitesse team. AZ are seven points back of PSV in second place and will try to keep pace with the leaders as they entertain NEC and cellar-dwellers RKC Waalwijk host Utrecht.

WEEKEND EREDIVISIE FIXTURES:

FRIDAY

Heracles - Groningen

SATURDAY

Heerenveen - Excelsior

NAC - ADO Den Haag

PSV Eindhoven - Willem II

Feyenoord - Sparta

SUNDAY

AZ Alkmaar - NEC

RKC Waalwijk - Utrecht

Roda - Twente

Vitesse - Ajax