Aiming to make it three wins on the bounce and move to the top of the League Two table, Doncaster Rovers will welcome Crewe Alexandra to the Eco-Power Stadium on Saturday.
The hosts moved level with the division's top three by collecting six points last week, while their visitors are just three points worse off in eighth spot following a victory of their own last weekend.
Match preview
© Imago
Doncaster Rovers return to the Eco-Power Stadium on Saturday aiming to continue their impressive return to form and further strengthen their position in League Two's leading pack.
Aiming to win promotion back to England's third tier at the third time of asking after falling short in the playoffs last time around, Grant McCann's side have enjoyed a strong start, collecting 19 points from their first 10 outings with no side in the division having earned more.
After seeing a near-perfect start brought to an abrupt end by a tougher run in late September, suffering defeats to Harrogate Town and Chesterfield either side of a draw with MK Dons, Rovers bounced back in style last week, firstly returning to winning ways at home to Barrow as Harry Clifton netted the only goal of the game nine minutes from time.
Then aiming to put another winning run together, the Yorkshire outfit most recently visited Grimsby Town on Saturday and made it back-to-back three-point hauls in style, dishing out a 3-0 beating at Blundell Park as Jordan Gibson and Luke Molyneux had them two ahead inside 10 minutes and the former netted his second before the interval.
Now sitting level on points with all three teams in League Two's automatic promotion spots, Doncaster Town will bid to make it three victories on the bounce at the weekend with a chance to climb to the summit.
They face a tough test, though, with the visitors arriving in Yorkshire in fine form of their own.
Also bidding to go one better after last season's playoff disappointment, having fallen short in the final, Crewe Alexandra endured a slow start to the new League Two campaign, collecting just one point from their first three fixtures, but they now head into the weekend as one of the division's form sides.
Indeed, in their six league outings since, Lee Bell's side have picked up five victories, firstly beating Bromley, Morecambe, Accrington Stanley and Harrogate Town respectively before suffering a narrow defeat away at Newport County at the end of September.
The Railwaymen were quickly able to bounce back when they returned to action at home to early leaders Gillingham on Saturday, as Shilow Tracey netted a goal in each half in a 2-0 home triumph.
Now on the back of another victory in midweek, beating Harrogate Town 1-0 in the EFL Trophy, Crewe Alexandra will bid to add to their tally of six points in four matches on the road this term with a victory to move level on points with their hosts in the top seven on Saturday.
Team News
© Imago
Grant McCann will likely field an unchanged Doncaster Rovers starting XI from last week's 3-0 victory at Grimsby on Saturday, with Richard Wood and James Maxwell confined to the treatment room and defender Tom Anderson remaining suspended.
In the absence of Anderson and Wood, midfielder Owen Bailey should again deputise alongside Jay McGrath at the heart of a back four, while George Broadbent and 19-year-old Patrick Kelly will continue their partnership in the engine room.
Joe Ironside and veteran Billy Sharp, who has netted four goals since returning to the Rovers in the summer, will compete to lead the line, while Luke Molyneux and Jordan Gibson are danger men on the wings having produced combined tallies of eight goals and four assists in League Two so far this season.
Crewe Alexandra could also be unchanged from last week's 2-0 victory on Saturday, with Kane Hemmings, Omar Bogle and Chris Long all set to remain sidelined.
In the absence of those key forwards, Lee Bell deployed Shilow Tracey up top against Gillingham, and after netting the decisive brace he will continue to lead the attack alongside advanced midfielder Jack Lankester.
Elsewhere, 19-year-old Jamie Knight-Lebel and 20-year-old Joel Tabiner will continue to play important roles in defence and midfield respectively, with the former joining James Connolly and key man Mickey Demetriou in a back three.
Doncaster Rovers possible starting lineup:
Sharman-Lowe; Sterry, Bailey, McGrath, Fleming; Kelly, Broadbent; Gibson, Clifton, Molyneux; Sharp
Crewe Alexandra possible starting lineup:
Marschall; Connolly, Knight-Lebel, Demetriou; Cooney, Breckin, Tabiner, Williams, Conway; Tracey, Lankester
We say: Doncaster Rovers 2-0 Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra have certainly shown their resilience and quality in recent weeks, particularly while facing several injury concerns, but Saturday presents one of their toughest tests yet, and we back Grant McCann's men to prevail with home advantage and make it three straight victories in their pursuit of top spot.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Sam Varley
