Mansfield Town play host to Colchester United on Saturday afternoon looking for the win that will strengthen their position at the top of the League Two standings.
Meanwhile, the visitors make the trip to Field Mill only sitting outside of the relegation zone on goal difference and on a prolonged run without a victory.
Match preview
On the back of two defeats in three games, Nigel Clough may have started to have concerns over Mansfield's ability to bounce back and retake control in the promotion race.
A further loss to Bradford City last week would have handed the initiative to the chasing pack, but the Stags were able to produce one of their best performances of the season.
Scoring three times in the opening 18 minutes took the game away from the Bantams before it had even started, allowing Mansfield to coast to a 5-1 triumph at Valley Parade.
Also possessing a game in hand on fourth-placed MK Dons, Mansfield now sit five points clear in the automatic promotion race with just eight matches remaining.
Furthermore, there is a four-point lead over Stockport County, albeit having played a game more, yet improvements are required on familiar territory with just four of their seven league games in 2024 ending with maximum points.
From the perspective of Colchester, they are battling for survival at the wrong end of the table, doing just enough to keep adding to their points total on a game-by-game basis.
Nevertheless, while they have only lost twice in 10 games, just one victory has been recorded during that period, Danny Cowley remaining under fierce pressure to move Colchester away from trouble.
Last time out, the U's posted a 1-1 draw - the fourth time that they had registered such a scoreline in five games - at home to Walsall, finding an equaliser shortly after half time having gone behind just before the break.
In isolation, that was a solid result, particularly when they have played at least two fewer games than Forest Green Rovers and Sutton United, but Colchester head into this fixture having accumulated just 15 points from their 19 away league encounters in 2023-24.
Team News
Providing that Baily Cargill shakes off a tight hamstring, Clough is likely to select the same Mansfield XI from the Bradford game.
Although Aaron Lewis came off the substitutes' bench to add a fifth for his side, the versatile Welshman is expected to remain among the replacements.
Cowley may take a similar approach when naming his Colchester XI given their latest solid performance against Walsall.
Tom Hopper could return to the attack in place of John Akinde, who remains with a League Two goal this season, while the versatile Alistair Smith may remain among the replacements with preference given in midfield to Noah Chilvers, who has featured in every league game in 2023-24.
Owura Edwards was able to make his first appearance in a month against the Saddlers, but the wideman could be kept in reserve for the second game running.
Mansfield Town possible starting lineup:
Pym; Bowery, Flint, Brunt, Cargill; Boateng, Reed, Quinn; Keillor-Dunn; Swan, Akins
Colchester United possible starting lineup:
Goodman; Mingi, Dallison-Lisbon, Hall; Anderson, Chilvers, Read, McGeehan, Fevrier; Akinde, Ihionvien
We say: Mansfield Town 3-1 Colchester United
With Mansfield having been far from perfect in recent weeks, Colchester will sense an opportunity to cause an upset, aware that no-one expects them to avoid defeat. However, we can only back the home side to come through, even if it takes the second half to finally discourage their opponents.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Darren Plant
