In a clash between two sides in good recent form, Wrexham host Altrincham at the Racecourse Ground in the National League on Saturday.
The home side will start proceedings in second place, while the visitors are currently in 15th.
Match preview
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Wrexham are performing at about the level people would have expected so far this season, five points ahead of third-placed Solihull Moors, but trailing league leaders Notts County by three points.
The only loss Phil Parkinson's side have suffered in their last 12 National League fixtures was at the hands of the team that they trail, losing 1-0 at Meadow Lane at the start of October courtesy of an early Matty Langstaff goal.
Other than that however, the Dragons have performed very well, racking up an impressive 42 goals so far, the highest of any team in the league.
Formidable strike partners Ollie Palmer and Paul Mullin have weighed in with a very impressive 19 goals between them up to this point, with centre-back Aaron Hayden also chipping in with a very solid seven goals of his own.
It was the defenders who had to get the Welsh side back into the game on Tuesday night, with second-half goals from Ben Tozer and Aaron Hayden helping to secure a 3-1 win against Halifax Town, with midfielder Jordan Davies also getting in on the act.
The result continued Wrexham's impeccable record at the Racecourse Ground so far this season, winning all seven of their home matches so far and scoring an incredible 30 goals in the process.
Altrincham are on a points tally that leaves them firmly in mid-table, acquiring 18 points from 15 games to leave them five points clear of the drop but six shy of the playoffs.
However, it is only a recent change in fortunes that has propelled the Robins up the table after enduring a torrid run of zero wins in their first nine league games.
Indeed, after beating Aldershot Town 1-0 at the end of September, the team who are also managed by a man named Phil Parkinson have managed to pick up 10 points in their last five league games.
Most recently, Altrincham dispatched of another side from Greater Manchester, defeating recently-relegated Oldham Athletic 1-0 on Tuesday night, with Chris Conn-Clarke firing in a second-half winner to ensure his side's good form continued.
Team News
Paul Mullin and Ollie Palmer have started every league match for Wrexham so far this season, and given their impressive goal returns, they will almost certainly get the nod again on Saturday.
Aaron Hayden and Ben Tozer have also been consistent starters this season in defence, and there is seemingly no reason for Parkinson to change anything after the pair both managed to get on the scoresheet on Tuesday.
Jordan Davies got the goal that put the Welsh side into the lead after coming on as a substitute against Halifax, so Parkinson is likely to reward him with a start at the weekend.
Rob Lainton, Reece Hall-Johnson and Harry Lennon are yet to feature this season, but they are inching closer to a return to the first-team picture and could be contenders to make the squad.
Midfielder Chris Conn-Clarke has scored three goals in his last four games, enjoying a breakthrough season at the age of 20, and he is likely to play in midfield, alongside captain Jordan Hulme.
The pair will be tasked with providing for striker Marcus Dinanga, who has netted an impressive four goals in his last five games.
Wrexham possible starting lineup:
Howard; Tunnicliffe, Hayden, Tozer, McFadzean; Jones, Forde, Young, Davies; Palmer, Mullin
Altrincham possible starting lineup:
Byrne; Barrows, Jones, Cooper, Jones; Lundstram, Osborne, Colclough, Conn-Clarke, Hulme; Dinanga
We say: Wrexham 3-0 Altrincham
Altrincham have seemed like a new team in recent matches, but given Wrexham's impeccable home record, it will be one step too far for the Robins to get anything out of Saturday's game. The Dragons have made it a habit of scoring a lot of goals at home, and we think that will continue.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Dominic Lund
