Stevenage play host to Leyton Orient on Saturday with the opportunity to move clear of the relegation zone in the League One table.
However, the 20th-placed visitors sit just four points adrift of their upcoming opponents and have their own chance to put some breathing space between themselves and the bottom four.
Match preview
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When Stevenage recently posted three wins in four league games, Alex Revell would have been confident about his players building on that run.
Instead, they followed it with a three-game losing streak and conceding eight goals in the process, upping the stakes ahead of the home meeting with Reading last time out.
Conceding eight minutes from time prevented Stevenage from posting the morale-boosting triumph that they needed, yet positives can be taken from simply avoiding defeat.
While just five points separate them from the relegation zone, Stevenage now sit eight points adrift of the playoff places.
Although Stevenage have won four of their eight league matches at the Lamex Stadium, they have failed to emerge victorious in their most recent such games.
Meanwhile, Leyton Orient have endured somewhat of a topsy-turvy campaign with both unbeaten and losing streaks having been put together.
Four defeats have been posted in their last six games, yet Richie Wellens will be relieved that the two wins during that period have come in their last three outings.
Home successes and clean sheets have come against Rotherham United and Blackpool, two clubs who could emerge as rivals to remain in the division as the season progresses.
Away from the Gaughan Group Stadium, though, Leyton Orient are currently on a three-match losing streak, scoring just once during that period.
Team News
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Barring any fitness issues, Revell may see no reason to make changes to his Stevenage XI.
If an alteration is made, Elliott List could return in attack, albeit having not scored a league goal since September.
Wellens could take a similar approach when naming his Leyton Orient side given the manner of their victory over Blackpool.
Although Charlie Kelman came off the substitutes' bench to net Orient's second, he had replaced Sonny Perkins who had also gotten on the scoresheet.
Lewis Warrington should also get the nod in midfield after coming through 66 minutes on just his second league start of the campaign.
Stevenage possible starting lineup:
Cooper; Smith, Thompson, Piergianni, Butler; Phillips, White, Freeman; Kemp; Simpson, Reid
Leyton Orient possible starting lineup:
Keeley; James, Beckles, Happe, Currie; Pratley, Warrington; Perkins, Galbraith, O'Neill; Agyei
We say: Stevenage 1-1 Leyton Orient
The visitors will be backing themselves to make it three wins from four and finally make some headway up the table. However, we feel that Stevenage will do enough to earn a share of the spoils, even if it only extends their growing winless streak.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Darren Plant
