Sporting Lisbon require one point to progress to the Europa League knockout stages.

Having won three of their opening four Group D contests, Sporting are in pole position to go through, while Heerenveen will be eliminated if they lose and second-placed Hertha Berlin beat FK Ventspils.

Carlos Carvalhal succeeded Paulo Bento as Sporting coach last month but must contend with a number of selection issues in his first European match in charge.

Midfielder Simon Vukcevic is a doubt after sustaining a knee injury in training, while defenders Abel, Andre Marques and forward Yannick Djalo are out and have been replaced in the squad by Nuno Reis, Renato Neto and Rabiu Ibrahim.

Russia international midfielder Marat Izmailov, however, could return after seven months out following knee surgery.

Sporting's European home form has been poor of late, with one win from six fixtures.

But they have never lost at home to Dutch opposition, winning six times in seven games.

Jan de Jonge's side travel to Lisbon without suspended defender Daryl Janmaat and injured midfielder Michal Svec.

Midfielder Viktor Elm (knee), defender Kristian Bak Nielsen (bruised foot) and forward Michal Papadopulos are all doubtful.

De Jonge believes Heerenveen must be at their best for the full duration of the game in order to avoid a premature European exit after late lapses in concentration cost them earlier in the competition.

Sporting scored the decisive strike in the 88th minute of the previous group contest between the sides, while Hertha netted a stoppage-time winner as they beat Heerenveen 3-2 in the last round of Europa League matches.

"We will aim for more control for a full 90 minutes," he said.

"In general we have problems with the last quarter of the game.

"Two European defeats cost us and we arrived at Utrecht and RKC in deep trouble. It must not happen again."

Despite the 3-1 Eredivisie defeat of RKC Waalwijk last weekend, De Jonge admits Heerenveen are lacking belief.

"The team has trouble with change," he said.

"If it is just not as it should be, fear creeps into the team.

"This has everything to do with confidence."