Separated by six points but also 14 places in the tightly-packed League One table, Morecambe and Cambridge United clash at the Mazuma Stadium on Saturday.
While the hosts still languish in the drop zone despite claiming a first win of the season last time out, their visitors have suffered successive league defeats to stall some early momentum.
Match preview
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After failing with their first eight attempts, Morecambe finally put maximum points on the board last weekend, after they snatched victory at Forest Green Rovers deep into second-half stoppage time.
Having pulled themselves level just before the interval, the Shrimps scored a late winner through centre-back Farrend Rawson and moved closer to the pack of teams above them in the table.
Manager Derek Adams would then have been targeting successive victories when his side welcomed League Two strugglers Hartlepool United to town on Tuesday, but they were forced to settle for a goalless draw. Morecambe did win the subsequent shootout 4-2, though, so are locked with Hartlepool at the top of EFL Trophy Group A.
Now, they return to League One action having accrued only two points from four home fixtures to date, so will be eager to rectify such a miserable run in front of their own fans.
With the Lancashire club being put up for sale earlier this month, the upward trajectory of recent years - during which they won promotion to the third tier for the first time in their history - seems to have slowed. Indeed, avoiding a return to League Two after just a couple of seasons may ultimately rely on improving results at the Mazuma Stadium.
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After ending their winless run on the road with an EFL Trophy success in midweek, Cambridge now have the opportunity to secure consecutive away wins at the weekend.
Mark Bonner's men sit inside the top half of the congested League One standings despite crashing to a 3-0 defeat against Barnsley last Saturday, and will seek a return to form in the league following a 2-0 cup victory over League Two Northampton Town, earned by Fejiri Okenabirhie's brace.
That result sees United remain third in their group on three points from two matches played; level with second-placed Arsenal Under-21s heading into the final round of fixtures.
A busy Autumn schedule relentlessly rides on for the U's, and after seeing their unbeaten run at the Abbey finally ended by the Tykes, they now aim for three points against more modest opponents, who they beat 2-1 in the clubs' most recent meeting back in April.
Cambridge finished a creditable 14th last season, but were among the teams to concede most goals away from home. With just one point gained on the road while leaking goals at a rate of two per game so far in the 2022-23 campaign, they arrive in Morecambe with some significant improvement required.
Team News
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After the midweek EFL tie enabled Derek Adams to assess some of the younger players in his Morecambe squad, the home side will be back to full strength on Saturday afternoon.
Adam Mayor has forced himself into contention, though, after covering absences among the first-team set-up and being handed a first start for the club against Hartlepool.
At the back, last week's matchwinner Farrend Rawson, Jacob Bedeau and Ryan Delaney will form the Shrimps' defensive barrier; while up front, Cole Stockton - scorer of 26 goals last season - should be joined by Kieran Phillips.
Meanwhile, several fringe members of the Cambridge squad also got valuable minutes in the tank on Tuesday, but the defensive pairing of Lloyd Jones and Zeno Ibsen Rossi may be broken up, as Jubril Okedina could return to the back four.
Fejiri Okenabirhie certainly pushed his case for promotion from the bench by scoring twice at Sixfields, while Saikou Janneh also impressed. Nonetheless, Shilow Tracey and James Brophy will expect to return on the flanks.
Brandon Haunstrup and Greg Taylor are both short of full fitness, so miss out this weekend.
Morecambe possible starting lineup:
Ripley; Rawson, Bedeau, Delaney; Love, Weir, Shaw, Taylor, Gibson; Phillips, Stockton
Cambridge United possible starting lineup:
Mitov; Williams, Jones, Okedina, Dunk; O'Neil, Digby; Tracey, Knibbs, Brophy; Ironside
We say: Morecambe 1-2 Cambridge United
Recent setbacks in League One have taken the gloss off a bright start for Cambridge this term, and they will surely not suffer a third straight loss at the hands of Morecambe. The hosts have enjoyed improved fortunes of late, but remain vulnerable defensively and are likely to concede more than once.
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Top tip
Jonathan O'Shea
