A disappointing showing from both clubs in 2016 saw VRA and VOC cast in the role of relegation rivals last season, finishing the regular competition at the bottom of the table with VOC forced to defend their Topklasse spot in a relegation play-off against Hoofdklasse bronze-medalists VVV. The expanded ten-team format of this season's competition adds something of a safety net this time round, but neither team ought to need it.
Last season's wooden spooners VOC Rotterdam have strengthened appreciably in the off-season, with former skipper and Dutch international Ahsan Malik returning to Hazelaarweg, and fellow international Max O'Dowd joining from VRA. Also returning is long-time VOC stalwart Chris Free after a sojourn in Australia.
Last season the Rotterdammers were rather over-reliant on Pieter Seelaar's performance with both bat and ball, the VOC skipper finishing both lead wicket-taker and run-scorer for his side, but O'Dowd and Malik will likely take some pressure off him in both respects. With Umar Baker rounding out the slow-bowling section VOC look to have the strongest spin attack in the competition this season, and with Malik, Dirk van Baren and Bobby Hanif providing a solid seam section Seelaar will not want for bowling options.
The signing of former Australia under 19 batsman Caleb Jewell will strengthen a somewhat under-performing batting line-up – only Seelaar managed 200 or more runs at an average over 20 last season – and with Brisbane-based all-rounder Tom Cramb slotting into the middle order alongside Jelte Schoonheim, Tim Ruyters and Dutch youth international Sebastiaan van Lent VOC look a balanced and dangerous outfit.
The prospect of the Rotterdam club jumping from the bottom to the top of the league in the space of a season is very much on the cards.
Meanwhile VRA will likewise be looking to improve on a disappointing 2016 season which saw them finish in 7th place, though they've not quite shaken off the availability and injury worries that plagued them last season. Talismanic skipper Peter Borren, 2016 Topklasse lead run-scorer Eric Szwarczynski and the evergreen Adeel Raja make up a solid core for the side, but circumstance often forced the Amsterdammers to rely on youth players and second team players to make up the numbers in 2016.
The return of Dutch international Ben Cooper after a 3 year absence further bolsters a batting line-up brimming with explosive potential, if not dependability. With Emile van den Burg, Sachin Peiris, Mitch Lees and emerging all-rounder Quirijn Gunning all capable of adding quick runs, the VRA line-up certainly does not lack for depth.
Pre-season injuries to off-spinner Leon Turmaine and Jeroen Mulder, however, together with the departure of Sadiq Mahmood, leave the bowling stocks looking a little light. That said, the welcome return of New Zealand-born quick Fred Klaasen after an injury-blighted 2016 provides Gunning with a top-shelf new ball partner. Assuming Borren can shake off a pre-season calf niggle and Szwarczynski and the occasionally-available Thijs Luten can chip in the VRA seam attack looks fairly solid, but with Turmaine out for at least the first few weeks of the season Raja remains the only first-choice spin option.
Though it seems likely that VRA will again have to rely on fringe players on occasion, the continued development of youngsters such as Vikram Singh, Haseeb Gul and Salman Mirza will mean the prospect is not as concerning as last season. All told the Amsterdam side look in better shape than at any time since their 2013 run to the finals, and will start the season among the title contenders.
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