Neither side's expected lineup or formation is confirmed, so we're working with the usual shapes. Cambuur, under their current setup, are likely to stick with a 4-3-3 — a system that relies on full-backs pushing high and wingers cutting inside. It's an attacking approach, but it leaves gaps in transition. Against a team like Excelsior, who are comfortable sitting in a mid-block and springing forward quickly, that's a dangerous game. The midfield trio will need to screen the back four better than they did against Volos, or they'll get picked off again.

Excelsior, for their part, are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1, with a double pivot shielding the defence and a number ten pulling the strings between the lines. They're not a side that dominates possession — they're a side that waits, then strikes. The 3-2 win over Cambuur earlier in the summer showed exactly that: they absorbed pressure, then hit with pace through the wide areas. Expect the same here. They'll let Cambuur have the ball, stay compact, and look to exploit the space behind those advancing full-backs.

The key battle will be in midfield. Cambuur's three against Excelsior's two — but it's not about numbers, it's about positioning. If Excelsior's double pivot can cut the passing lanes, Cambuur will be forced wide, and their crosses will be meat and drink for the Excelsior centre-backs. On the flip side, if Cambuur can move the ball quickly through the thirds, they might just unlock that back line. But based on recent evidence, they haven't shown the patience or the precision to do it consistently.