Ajax admit to Super Cup distraction

PSV Eindhoven and AFC Ajax meet in the Dutch Super Cup on Saturday at the Amsterdam ArenA with the 'home' side aiming to beat their rivals for the third time in a row to win the Johan Cruyff Trophy.

Ajax target
As in both those previous meetings, PSV go into the match as reigning league champions, while Ajax successfully defended the Dutch Cup last season. But although an Ajax victory would draw them level with PSV on seven successes in this competition, Wednesday's UEFA Champions League third qualifying round visit of SK Slavia Praha takes priority. Coach Henk ten Cate, who was in Prague to watch Slavia beat MSK Žilina on penalties this week, said: "The match against PSV is of less importance. Pre-season preparations have been aimed squarely at qualification for the Champions League group stage."

Squad changes
To that end Ten Cate is set to rest striker Klaas Jan Huntelaar against PSV, with new signing Ismael Urzaiz still recovering from abdominal surgery. The departures of Ryan Babel, Tom De Mul and Kenneth Perez have left Ajax short of options up front, but on the plus side Laurent Delorge and Dennis Rommedahl have arrived along with Spanish veteran Ismael Urzaiz.

Duo depart
PSV, who go straight into the UEFA Champions League group stage, lost retired captain Phillip Cocu and Chelsea FC-bound defender Alex this summer, but have added to their ranks with Perez, midfielders Mike Zonneveld and Tommie van der Leegte, strikers Jonathan Reis and Danko Lazović, defender Slobodan Rajković, goalkeeper Cássio Ramos and returning loanees Ismaïl Aissati and Otman Bakkal.

Attacking options
"It's not easy to replace Cocu and Alex," said coach Ronald Koeman. "We have found solutions in the shape of several players, giving us more possibilities, especially in attack. In the second half of last season we played with two attackers but now with Lazović, Perez and Jonathan we have more options. The Super Cup might not be the most important prize, but I always want to win. It is a good time to test ourselves against fellow Eredivisie contenders." Lazović is suspended on Saturday along with Ajax's Wesley Sneijder.