The three Eredivisie challengers - PSV, Alkmaar and Ajax - will all be looking for maximum points this weekend in order to maintain their respective challenges.

PSV are in pole position on 71 points, two clear of their rivals, but in the penultimate round face a tricky-looking task - a trip to Nieuwe Galgenwaard to play FC Utrecht, a team with the joint-best defensive record at home this season.

However, the defending champions will be looking to build on last week's 2-0 victory over fourth-placed FC Twente and have also been boosted with the return to training of influential defender Alex.

The Brazilian tore a hamstring a month ago and has returned to Holland after spending a month of rehabilitation in his native country.

"I think I have recovered completely," he said upon his return. "The tear had healed after only two weeks. I have returned to full fitness and expect to be available for the last two games."

Both AZ and Ajax will know that any slip-up on Sunday will rule them out of the race. The pair will therefore be looking to make full use of home advantage when they host Heerenveen and Sparta Rotterdam respectively.

Van Gaal's AZ bounced back from their UEFA Cup exit with a 1-0 triumph over Vitesse Arnhem last weekend, while Henk ten Cate saw his Amsterdammers follow up Friday's league win - 2-0 against NAC Breda - with a 3-1 triumph over RKC Waalwijk in the semi-final of the Dutch Cup on Wednesday.

Buoyed by that victory, Ten Cate was in positive mood, saying: "The match had nothing to do with the league, although it gives us some more confidence. If something is about to change in the league table, it has to happen this weekend.

"Maybe it's going to be a very good weekend for us."

While the race for the title is alive and kicking, the automatic relegation place has already been decided, ADO Den Haag the unfortunate ones who will play Eerste Divisie football next term.

The team from The Hague take on UEFA Cup hopefuls FC Groningen, who are involved with a host of other teams in the race for European qualification.

The others include Feyenoord and NEC Nijmegen, who clash in Rotterdam, NAC and Roda JC, who meet at the Fujifilm stadium, and Utrecht.

Elsewhere, confirmed fourth-place finishers Twente travel to Vitesse, while Willem II and Heracles Almelo will be hoping to stave of the relegation play-off places when they play RKC and Excelsior respectively.