Two rounds to be played in the Hoofdklasse, and with three of the play-off places already settled – and Quick Haag virtually certain to finish the regular season in top place – four teams still have at least a mathematical chance of grabbing the final slot.

For VOC Rotterdam, the point they gained from the abandoned match against Sparta last week gave the faintest gleam of hope that they might still make it, although for that to happen they would not only need to win their two remaining games, but their three rivals would all need to lose both theirs.

That will almost certainly not happen, but nothing’s impossible in the Hoofdklasse, and the Rotterdammers could be forgiven for taking a greater interest than usual in the results elsewhere this Sunday.

If the threatened rain eventuates, of course, then there’s a chance that VOC will again have to settle for a point and/or one of their rivals will collect one, and then it would indeed be over for the club which finished second in each of the past two seasons.

Their opponents this Sunday are VVV Amsterdam, whose own need for points is equally desperate.

They are locked in a relegation struggle with Sparta, whose point last week brought them back to within a single point of VVV.

The Amsterdam club have lost the services of coach Mohammad Hafeez, who has returned to Pakistan, and are also without second-team coach Rauf Wain, who might have been a replacement. They have permission to sign a replacement, but that will be tricky at this advanced stage of the season.

Sparta 1888, meanwhile, travel to Amstelveen to take on VRA Amsterdam, whose chances of making the play-offs depend in part on their registering a substantial win in this match.

Level on points with Hermes-DVS Schiedam, VRA are currently behind on net run rate, and with both sides scheduled to play Sparta in the final rounds, their relative performances may have a profound effect on who finishes higher in the final table.

Rain this weekend is therefore the last thing the defending champions need, while Sparta will be equally keen, especially after having registered their best batting performance of the season against VOC last week, to push for two vital points.

Hermes-DVS, on the other hand, face a difficult match against Quick Haag at Nieuw Hanenburg, with their encounter with Sparta scheduled for the final round on 24 August.

Quick need just one more point to be certain of topping the table, and thereby gaining home advantage for the play-offs, and will be full of confidence going into their game with a Hermes side whose batting has been dreadfully fragile in recent weeks.

HBS Den Haag, a point behind Hermes and VRA, take on Voorburg at Westvliet, and given that their final match is against Quick they must make absolutely certain of the points this week if they are to have a fighting chance of getting past their rivals and taking fourth place.

They, too, have had problems with the batting, only coach Shane Deitz having shown any real consistency, but Voorburg have won only one of their last seven games and are themselves only just outside the relegation zone.

Vital as all these games are, the match of the day is that between Excelsior ’20 and HCC at Thurlede, which will have a crucial influence on the battle for second place.

HCC are currently just ahead on percentages with a game in hand, but Excelsior would jump above them, at least temporarily, if they won on Sunday.

The two sides are pretty evenly matched – although HCC perhaps have greater strength in depth – and the outcome will largely depend on who puts in the better performance on the day.

With their deferred match against Quick and a final-round game against VRA to follow, HCC have a tough run-in, while Excelsior play VOC in their last match.

It looks as if there will again be issues to be settled on the final weekend of the regular season.

This week’s predictions: VOC, VRA, HBS, Quick Haag, HCC.