PSV face up to familiar threat

Fierce competition
The 2002/03 champions will be out to keep their crown in coach Guus Hiddink's second season back at the club, yet PSV can expect fierce competition from traditional Eredivisie rivals AFC Ajax and Feyenoord.

Big three
The big three have held a vice-like grip on the domestic game for decades with AZ Alkmaar's triumph in 1981 being the only time in almost 40 years when an outsider has taken the title.

Stars retained
PSV are certainly capable of staying on top, having kept their two best players in captain Mark van Bommel and last season's Dutch top scorer Mateja Kezman. Having won the Super Cup against FC Utrecht last Sunday, Hiddink's side look as strong as ever, and the arrival of 17-year-old striking prodigy Johann Vonlanthen from BSC Young Boys could make them even better.

Ajax weakened
By contrast, last year's runners-ups Ajax have lost some key performers with Romanian defender Cristian Chivu joining AS Roma, winger Andy van der Meyde off to Internazionale FC and Ahmed 'Mido' Hossam leaving for Olympique de Marseille.

New signings
In their place, Ronald Koeman has brought in defenders Zdenek Grygera from AC Sparta Praha and Julien Escudé from Stade Rennais FC as well as Belgian striker Wesley Sonck from KRC Genk.

Quick reorganisation
With captain Jari Litmanen susceptible to achilles trouble, the onus is on the coach to get a new-look team to gel as a unit as quickly as possible. But after their run to the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals last time out, Koeman has high hopes for his side. "A club like Ajax have to go for all the prizes every year," he said. "That is one of the duties that go with coaching this club."

Dramatic changes
While Koeman has made some adjustments to his squad, his Feyenoord counterpart Bert van Marwijk has faced more dramatic reconstruction work after parting company with several major players.

Feyenoord departures
Captain Paul Bosvelt signed for Manchester City FC, winger Bonaventure Kalou moved to AJ Auxerre, top scorer Pierre van Hooijdonk has gone to Fenerbahçe SK while wing-back Brett Emerton departed for Blackburn Rovers FC.

Brave face
The coach put a brave face on it, saying: "Of course it is annoying when players leave, but there comes a moment when it is good for a club to refresh its squad, and I think this was the right time for Feyenoord."

Rotterdam newcomers
Refreshing his squad has meant Van Marwijk signing midfield player Alfred Schreuder from NAC Breda, strikers Danko Lazovic from FK Partizan and Dirk Kuijt from Utrecht as well as central defender Peter van den Berg from RKC Waalwijk.

Chasing pack
Behind the big three, NAC, NEC Nijmegen, Utrecht, Roda, RKC, SC Heerenveen and Willem II could all compete for UEFA Cup places. At the other end of the table, FC Zwolle, FC Groningen and RBC Roosendaal along with newly promoted FC Volendam and ADO Den Haag are expected to struggle.

'Life and death'
Yet Den Haag hope to hang on in the top flight as they await the opening of their new stadium in 2005. "It is a matter of life and death for us to stay in the Eredivisie for the next two years," said coach Rinus Israel.