Ajax have not won in the league for three games and are licking their wounds after a 4-0 hammering at the hands of Real Madrid at home on Tuesday which confirmed their elimination from the Champions League.
But tomorrow's trip to second-bottom VVV Venlo should at least help the Amsterdam club on the road to recovery with a much needed victory.
Demy de Zeeuw, the Ajax midfielder, is glad his team are facing a Venlo side without Keisuke Honda, the star of Japan's World Cup campaign.
Honda played when these sides met in last season's corresponding fixture, but with his departure to CSKA Moscow last winter, De Zeeuw is confident of Ajax's chances.
"VVV with or without a Honda is a world of difference," he said on ajax.nl.
"Last year we did well and we won. We must do so again this year."
Fixtures
Today
AZ Alkmaar v Heerenveen 9.45pm
Roda JC v Groningen 10.45pm
Willem II v Excelsior 10.45pm
NEC v Twente 11.45pm
Tomorrow
De Graafschap v Vitesse 3.30pm
Feyenoord v Den Haag 3.30pm
Heracles v Utrecht 5.30pm
VVV v Ajax 5.30pm
