As both sides look to define their season in the Turkish Super Lig, Caykur Rizespor are set to host Alanyaspor at the Caykur Didi Stadyumu on Sunday.
The hosts will be looking to bounce back from their cup defeat earlier this week, while the Simsekler will be hoping to make it three games unbeaten.
Match preview
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Leading up to this clash, Ilhan Palut's Rizespor bookended three consecutive league defeats with victories against Adana Demirspor in late January and Samsunspor last weekend.
Their 3-2 win on the road on February 22 left the hosts 11th in the Turkish top flight with 30 points to their name, meaning they are now six points above the relegation zone and 11 behind giants Besiktas in fourth.
Palut's side's position also means that Sunday's result could shape the rest of the campaign, as a win may take them level on points with seventh-placed Istanbul Basaksehir, but defeat could take them back into the relegation battle depending on matches elsewhere.
That being said, Rizespor have been exceptional at home this season, and having lost just one league game on their own turf since October, the hosts will be confident of moving in an upward trajectory with a positive result this weekend.
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Meanwhile, Sami Ugurlu's Alanyaspor have been in mixed form, winning three and losing three of their six most recent Super Lig fixtures.
Last time out in the league, the Simsekler came from behind to beat Adana Demirspor 3-2 thanks to an equaliser from Florent Hadergjonaj and a 90th-minute winner courtesy of Yusuf Ozdemir.
Despite their eventual triumph, Sunday's visitors will be disappointed to have gone two down to the division's bottom club in the first place, and the fact that they needed an own goal from Arda Okan Kurtulan to get back into the match will be concerning to the manager.
Regardless, that win took Ugurlu's side to 10th in the table, and with 31 points on the board, they are now 10 points behind the spot for entry into UEFA Conference League qualifiers but also just seven ahead of Kayserispor in the relegation zone.
In a similar situation to their opponents, a win could see Sunday's visitors shift their focus upwards, especially considering that three points would take them seventh if results elsewhere proved favourable.
However, with just one league win on the road since September, Alanyaspor will be wary of their trip to Rizespor this weekend, and it will take a standout performance for them to walk away with maximum points.
Team News
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Rizespor are likely to miss midfielder Giannis Papanikolaou, who has been dealing with a shoulder injury since his side's win over Samsunspor.
As a result, Palut could select the versatile Berkay Ozcan to line up alongside Ibrahim Olawoyin in the centre of the park on Sunday.
In defence, right-back Eray Korkmaz is a doubt for this match, and though he should be available in early March, Taha Sahin will start next to Samet Akaydin in the backline.
As for Alanyaspor, they will be without right-back Florent Hadergjonaj and centre-back Nuno Lima this weekend due to suspension, so expect Gaius Makouta and Fatih Aksoy to start in their places.
The only other absentee for the Simsekler is midfielder Buluthan Bulut, who will be out for the rest of the season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Caykur Rizespor possible starting lineup:
Cetin; Sahin, Akaydin, Alikulov, Hojer; Ozcan, Olawoyin; Babajide, Omur, Pala; Sowe
Alanyaspor possible starting lineup:
Taskiran; Makouta, Aksoy, Aliti, Balkovec; Makouta, Aksoy; Cordova, Karaca, Ozdemir; Sporar
We say: Caykur Rizespor 2-1 Alanyaspor
Both sides have been in mixed to poor form over recent weeks, and a victory either way could shape the rest of the campaign for either team.
However, Rizespor's strong home record and Alanyaspor's lack of wins away from their own ground makes it difficult to picture anything other than a win for Palut's men on Sunday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
