Nantong Zhiyun will be aiming to move above Meizhou Hakka in the Chinese Super League table by beating them on Sunday.
The visitors are ahead of their forthcoming opponents on goal difference, with both teams occupying the two positions directly above the relegation zone.
Match preview
Having been promoted to the Chinese Super League for the first time in their history last season, Nantong's primary aim will be to avoid an instant return to the second tier at the end of their debut campaign.
Based in Jiangsu, Nantong were only founded as a club in March 2016, spending three seasons in the third tier before eventually gaining promotion from China's League One at the fourth attempt.
Now managed by former Barcelona midfielder Gabri, four defeats from their last five games has left them only one point above the relegation zone ahead of hosting Meizhou Hakka this weekend, although they gave a decent account of themselves when falling to a 1-0 defeat to second-placed Shanghai Shenshua earlier this week.
Having only lost by one goal to league leaders in Shanghai Port in their previous game, too, the 44-year-old will sense an excellent opportunity to climb some places in the table by beating a fellow struggler at Rugao Olympic Sports Center Stadium on Sunday.
Meizhou, meanwhile, appear set for a much more difficult season than when finishing ninth in their first ever campaign in the Chinese Super League last time out.
Managed by Milan Ristic since February 2021, the Serbian guided them back to the top tier via promotion in 2021, before helping them comfortably finish in mid-table in their first season in the big time last time around.
Based in Wuhua County, the club was only formed 10 years ago, winning the third tier in their third season before eventually gaining promotion at the next level above six years later.
However, they are clearly beginning to find life at this level extremely tough after losing six of their last seven league games, with Ristic desperately hoping for that run to come to an end in Nantong this weekend.
Team News
Nantong will have to compete without Oumar Camara due to an ankle injury, which has caused the 30-year-old to miss 19 consecutive matches.
Gabri may see little reason to make any alterations to the starting XI that competed with one of the stronger teams in the division on Wednesday, meaning Romario Balde will carry the bulk of the hosts' offensive threat once again.
Meizhou, on the other hand, may make a few changes after being comfortably swatted aside by Zheijang in their latest match in midweek.
Ristic's compatriot Rade Dugalic will be hoping for a much stronger collective showing in defence, with the 30-year-old regarded as the leader of the visitors back line.
Nantong Zhiyun possible starting lineup:
Shi; Shinar, Ma, W. Liu, H. Liu; Li, Cao, Yang; Wang; Morelatto, Balde
Meizhou Hakka possible starting lineup:
Guo; Wang, Pan, Dugalic, Chen; Kosovic, Shi; H. Yin, Ye, Yang; C. Yin
We say: Nantong Zhiyun 1-1 Meizhou Hakka
With both teams desperately hoping to avoid falling to yet another defeat, we can envisage them adopting a safety-first approach when they meet each other on Sunday.
Only a victory for either side would guarantee that they remain outside of the relegation zone, but we are predicting a score draw, leaving them vulnerable to falling inside the bottom two places.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Brett Curtis
