Hatayspor welcome Trabzonspor to the New Hatay Stadium in Monday's Turkish Super Lig action.
Both sides, separated by two points and four places in the table, head into the round six fixture unbeaten in recent gameweeks, even if the away side should feel better about their ongoing run.
Match preview
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It has been a mixed start to the new season for Volkan Demirel's men, whose undefeated five games is matched by just five of the other 19 teams in the top flight.
However, the Antakya-based club have picked up one victory in the season's opening weeks, playing out four consecutive draws before their imminent game.
That win came against newly promoted Pendiksor, who are competing at this level for the first time in the club's history, adding a layer of context to the opening weekend's 5-1 success for Demirel's troops.
The failure to score in three of their four stalemates highlights Star of the South's issues in attack, a problem that must be fixed against the 2022 champions on Monday to give the home side hope of maximum points.
On the first anniversary of Demirel's appointment at the club last September, Hatayspor will hope to celebrate the former goalkeeper's arrival with success.
As for the away side, the embryonic table has them ranked fourth after five matches, three points shy of table-topping Fenerbahce, who have played one fewer game.
Nenad Bjelica's men have recovered from consecutive defeats in rounds two and three to record successive victories over Kasimpasa and Besiktas to rise to their current position.
Unlike their hosts, Trabzonspor are firing in attack, evidenced by eight goals in recent victories, and their next goal will be the club's 12th of the season.
Black Sea Storm are the league's top scorers, with their only failure to find the back of the net coming in the 2-0 defeat by defending league champions Galatasaray in round two, and they should back themselves to add to that tally on Monday.
Bjelica has claimed seven victories and lost six in five months in charge, but the coach will believe his side have the quality up top to secure his eighth triumph and fourth of the season at Hatayspor.
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Team News
Unless a late injury occurs, Demirel has no worries on that front before Monday's game, with Hatayspor also not missing anyone through suspension.
Oluwafisayo Dele-Bashiru and Carlos Strandberg have both netted three goals for the home side, making them potential match-winners for the Antakya-based club.
Strikingly, the goals have been spread out for Trabzonspor, with no individual scoring more than twice after five league games — Anastasios Bakasetas and Enis Destan are tied.
Paul Onuachu scored a debut goal in the 3-0 success over Besiktas before going off injured, but it was only precautionary and the Nigeria international should start on Monday.
Confirmed absentees are Mislav Orsic (ACL), Filip Benkovic (stomach), Huseyin Turkmen (hamstring), Dimitrios Kourbelis (ankle), Jean-Philippe Gbamin (hamstring) and Joaquin Fernandez (leg); new arrival Nicolas Pepe, who was not in last week's squad to face Besiktas, could feature as a substitute if deemed fit enough for a place on the bench.
Hatayspor possible starting lineup:
Kardesler; Corekci, Bekaroglu, Klama, Matur; Massanga, Dele-Bashiru, Aburjania; Strandberg, Ze, Fernandes
Trabzonspor possible starting lineup:
Cakir; Aydin, Baniya, Benkovic, Elmali; Bakasetas, Mendy; Visca, Omur, Bardhi; Onuachu
We say: Hatayspor 1-2 Trabzonspor
Trabzonspor will be wary of Hatayspor's threat on the counter-attack, but the away side's attacking firepower should see them through on Monday.
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