With more showery weather predicted for the weekend the chances that all seven scheduled matches will reach a finish seem remote, and the consequence is likely to be further headaches for the competition managers. But for the clubs themselves the first priority is to make sure of points as the Hoofdklasse reaches its climax.

Four clubs will make an attempt on Saturday to complete games which have already been abandoned twice. VOC Rotterdam know that they will move within two points of VRA Amsterdam if they can beat HBS Den Haag, and their opponents’ batting collapse against Voorburg last Sunday will give them plenty of encouragement. HBS look a good deal weaker without Alexei Kervezee, who is in England, and VOC will certainly start as strong favourites.

Hermes-DVS Schiedam are also playing without a key player, since coach Pankaj Joshi has had to return to India. They put up a strong fight against VRA last week, but HCC had a convincing win over Rood en Wit last week and can be expected to defeat Hermes as well.

HCC are then at home to HBS on Sunday and will be keen to reverse their first-round result, when HBS pulled off a remarkable last-over victory. Already two games behind leaders VRA, HCC know that they have to win if they are to retain any chance at all of challenging for the title in the final weekend, and even then they will be reliant on other teams to upset VRA and VOC. But the probability is that their attack will be too strong for HBS.

The two top sides are both away on Sunday, VRA at Rood en Wit and VOC at VVV Amsterdam. While the champions have proved that they are less invulnerable on matting wickets than they are at home, they will go into this week’s game determined to ensure that there are no more slip-ups and that they retain their advantage. The Haarlem side’s bowling, apart from captain Farhad Sardha, has not made much impression all season, and VRA should come out comfortable winners if they play anywhere near their full potential.

VOC’s trip to Amstelveen is potentially trickier, although VVV, too, have had problems with their attack. Their batting, however, remains explosive at times, and this game may be VOC’s biggest remaining challenge. Form suggests that the Rotterdam side will win through and maintain the pressure on VRA, but they will be relieved if they head away from Amstelveen on Sunday evening with the points.

Sunday also sees the second Schiedam derby of the season, with both hosts Hermes-DVS and Excelsior in the lower half of the table. It’s a long time since that has happened, but it won’t affect the local rivalry associated with the fixture. Excelsior won at home in June, and with players like Mark Cleary and Daan van Bunge in their side it seems likely that they will complete the double.

Voorburg had a great weekend last week, defeating both Excelsior and HBS, and will visit Quick Haag full of confidence. Quick have had a terrible run of injuries, with Darron Reekers unable to play last Sunday and Geert Maarten Mol forced to leave the field early in the VOC innings, and they will need their younger players to give Faiek Davids and Henk-Jan Mol further support if they are to beat VCC and hold on to fifth place. This is probably the tightest of the week’s fixtures, but if VCC can maintain their momentum they may judge edge it.

This week’s tips:
Saturday: VOC, HCC
Sunday: VRA, HCC, VOC, Excelsior, VCC