Ajax coach Martin Jol has talked down the Amsterdammers' chances of wresting the Eredivisie crown away from AZ Alkmaar this season despite a summer rebuilding programme at the ArenA. The new campaign gets under way tomorrow night with Heerenveen taking on Roda JC. Ajax open on Sunday with a trip to FC Groningen.

Jol, who joined Ajax from Hamburg early in the close season, believes AZ and the team they dethroned, PSV Eindhoven, will be the sides to beat. He told Voetbal International: "Alkmaar have kept most of their team together, while PSV made a step forward by signing experienced duo Andre Ooijer and Orlando Engelaar.

"You can say it is almost unfeasible for Ajax to win the title but it can be done and we will go for it. Playing for the championship is a must for Ajax but being the biggest club in the country does not guarantee success, like we noticed in the last few years."

Ajax have not won the trophy for five years but have brought in Holland international Demy de Zeeuw from AZ and Hamburg full-back Thimothee Atouba. Last season's captain Thomas Vermaelen has left for Arsenal, however. De Zeeuw is set to start on Sunday but Atouba could have to settle for a place on the bench. Ajax are also without Spanish utility man Gabri while young midfielder Eyong Enoh faces a late fitness test on a groin problem.

AZ visit Heracles Almelo boosted by getting their hands on the Dutch Super Cup last weekend after thrashing Heerenveen 5-1. New boss Ronald Koeman reluctantly sanctioned the sale of De Zeeuw but replacement Pontus Wernbloom is set to go straight into the side at the weekend.

Heracles are one of the favourites to go down having sold key players Ricky van den Berg and Emmanuel Boakye this summer. PSV ought to get off to a winning start with a home game against newly-promoted VVV Venlo.

Midfielder Engelaar, a new arrival from Schalke, is confident his side will challenge this season.

He told the club's website "We are certainly a candidate. Ajax and AZ will also challenge. But I rule out Feyenoord although I expect them to be in the top five."

New boss Fred Rutten is certainly expecting better than last season's fourth-place finish. "The goal is to redirect the negativity of last season towards a positive year," he said.

"We want to go for prizes in all competitions, so I am demanding a lot from the footballing side of the club while looking to preserve the family atmosphere we have here."

Feyenoord's Dani Fernandez faces his former club this weekend but insists he will be eager to guide the Rotterdammers to three points against NEC Nijmegen.

"I play now for Feyenoord and I will try to win each game," he told the club's official website. "Of course it's a game which has particular significance for me as NEC gave me a great chance in the game but when the game starts I can no longer think that way. I must win this game."

Also on Sunday, NAC Breda go to ADO Den Haag hoping to have a clean bill of health after this evening's Europa League encounter at Polonia Warsaw. FC Twente start at Sparta Rotterdam with boss Steve McClaren admitting it will be tough for his side to match their achievements of last season, let alone to improve on it.

The former England boss steered the Enschede club to a second-place finish in the Eredivisie, enough for a place in the Champions League qualifiers, and also to the final of the KNVB Beker. "I have told my players that it would be difficult to repeat the success (of last season)," he said.

"I am convinced it is possible, but we also now need to build a new team, with the transfers of several good players. This season it's also our goal to get the maximum out of the group."

Twente look set to lose Marko Arnautovic to Inter Milan in the coming days and have already sold Eljero Elia and Edson Braafheid this summer, bringing in Miroslav Stoch on loan from Chelsea and South Africa striker Bernard Parker.

McClaren's men drew 0-0 at Sporting Lisbon in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League third qualifying round tie last night. Calvin Jong-A-Pin will go straight into the Vitesse Arnhem squad for Saturday's trip to Willem II as Vitesse look to improve on two disappointing seasons.

Willem faded after a good start last term to finish 12th and avoiding relegation will be their principle aim once again. Another promoted side RKC Waalwijk host FC Utrecht. RKC have kept hold of most of their successful squad from last season with full-back Ferne Snoyl being the only departure.

Utrecht could be one of the surprise packages with Ricky van Wolfswinkel one to watch. Heerenveen will be without goalkeeper Kenny Steppe against Roda. Steppe has been ruled out for at least six weeks after breaking a bone in his wrist during training.

"Because Kenny continued to have pain, we decided to have some x-rays," club physio Erik ten Voorde told the club's website. "It became clear he had broken a bone in his hand."