Leicester City make the long trip to Plymouth Argyle on Friday evening knowing that they need to get back to winning ways in the Championship.
At a time when the Foxes remain with their automatic-promotion fate in their own hands, their hosts sit in 20th position in the standings.
Match preview
© Reuters
With their fate continuing to remain in their own hands, Enzo Maresca cannot have too many complaints with where Leicester find themselves at this stage of the season.
That said, Tuesday's 1-0 defeat at Millwall was their fifth loss in nine Championship fixtures, having succumbed just four times in their opening 32 such outings.
Off-the-field pressures may have played their part, yet it could just be mental fatigue from remaining on top throughout the campaign without getting over the line.
Leicester somehow remain with the best away record in the division, collecting 42 points from 21 fixtures, but they have accumulated just one point from games at Hull City, Bristol City and Millwall.
Maresca will be relieved that three of their final four games will be played at the King Power Stadium, yet the ramifications of a defeat here would be Leicester facing the increased possibility of the playoffs regardless of how they fare in the East Midlands.
For the first time since the start of February, Plymouth have gone two matches without suffering a defeat, an immediate response to Neil Dewsnip being brought back to the dugout in caretaker charge.
Plymouth's continued strong form in defence should come as no surprise; Eight games have now passed since they last conceded more than twice in a Championship fixture.
Nevertheless, keeping a clean sheet in a 1-0 win at Rotherham United on Friday renewed some belief ahead of battling back to earn a 1-1 draw against Queens Park Rangers four days later.
The improvements of other teams means that the South Coast outfit sit just two points above the bottom three, and the stakes remain high to get something from this contest with trips to relegation rivals Stoke City and Millwall still to come.
Team News
© Reuters
While Dewsnip went with an unchanged Plymouth XI earlier this week, squad rotation may come more into play here.
Matthew Sorinola, Adam Forshaw, Ben Waine and Mustapha Bundu all played their part in the draw with QPR and are pushing for recalls at either wing-back, in midfield or attack respectively.
Leicester have had one less day of recovery over the past week and that will also impact on what starting lineup is selected by Maresca.
Abdul Fatawu is in line to replace Yunus Akgun, while one of Kelechi Iheanacho or Patson Daka should get the nod over Jamie Vardy.
The four-strong injury list of Ben Nelson, Harry Souttar, Kasey McAteer and Tom Cannon is expected to remain for this contest.
Plymouth Argyle possible starting lineup:
Cooper; Phillips, Scarr, Gibson; Sorinola, Randell, Houghton, Mumba; Whittaker, Bundu; Hardie
Leicester City possible starting lineup:
Hermansen; Pereira, Faes, Vestergaard, Doyle; Winks, Ndidi; Fatawu, Dewsbury-Hall, Mavididi; Daka
We say: Plymouth Argyle 1-2 Leicester City
Given the manner in which Plymouth have improved of late, we would not be surprised to see the Pilgrims earn a share of the spoils here. However, the Foxes' superior quality in the final third may lead to them edging a late win at Home Park.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
