SK Brann and Lillestrom are separated by just four points in the Norwegian Eliteserien table ahead of their showdown at Brann Stadion on Sunday evening.
Second-placed Brann have won each of their last three league matches, while fifth-placed Lillestrom returned to winning ways with victory over Stabaek last weekend.
Match preview
Brann booked their place in the fourth round of the Norwegian Cup in dramatic fashion on Wednesday, serving up a thrilling 3-3 draw with Aalesund after extra time before triumphing 6-5 on penalties.
Eirik Horneland's men have now avoided defeat in each of their last seven matches across all competitions, with six consecutive wins preceding Wednesday's penalty-shootout victory.
Impressively, last season's second-tier champions have lost only two of their 10 league outings this season, picking up six wins and two draws in the process, while only two sides have scored more goals than Brann's 21.
Following a solitary season in the second tier, the Bergen outfit are enjoying an eye-catching comeback campaign in Norway's top flight, and they currently find themselves four points inside the European places.
As for Lillestrom, they sit one point shy of the European places with a game in hand over Brann, having recorded five wins, one draw and three losses to remain within touching distance of the top three.
After winning three of their opening four Eliteserien games, the Canaries endured a run of one victory in four league outings before returning to winning ways with a 3-1 win over Stabaek last weekend, courtesy of an Akor Adams hat-trick.
Adams has now scored 10 goals in nine league appearances this term, meaning that no player has netted more Eliteserien goals than Lillestrom's 23-year-old Nigerian striker.
Having taken seven points from their previous three away league games – scoring five goals while keeping two clean sheets for good measure – Geir Bakke's boys will fancy their chances of halting Brann's hot streak.
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Team News
Brann have reported no injury problems ahead of Sunday's clash, meaning that Eirik Horneland will likely revert back to the starting XI that instigated last weekend's 3-1 league victory over Aalesund.
In-form striker Bard Finne will lead the line for the hosts, having chalked up 12 goals and five assists in 13 games across all competitions, with Frederik Borsting and Ole Didrik Blomberg joining Finne in the forward line.
Despite notching three goals and three assists in three Norwegian Cup appearances this term, 19-year-old midfielder Isak Hjorteseth may have to settle for a place on the substitutes' bench this weekend.
On the flip side, Lillestrom defender Martin Ove Roseth is expected to miss Sunday's showdown as he continues to recover from a neck injury sustained on the opening weekend of the season.
Hat-trick hero Akor Adams will continue in attack alongside Kosovo international Ylldren Ibrahimaj, while Ruben Gabrielsen, Vetle Skjaervik and Kristoffer Tonnessen should occupy the centre-back roles in a 3-5-2 formation.
SK Brann possible starting lineup:
Dyngeland; Crone, Knudsen, Kristiansen, Wolfe; Rasmussen, Nilsen, Myhre; Blomberg, Finne, Borsting
Lillestrom possible starting lineup:
Christiansen; Gabrielsen, Skjaervik, Tonnessen; Edh, Knudsen, Hoff, Asen, Dragsnes; Adams, Ibrahimaj
We say: SK Brann 3-0 Lillestrom
In addition to winning six of their previous seven matches, Brann have scored 28 goals in the process, averaging more than four goals per game since losing to Sarpsborg 08 last month.
With that in mind, we expect the high-flying hosts to make light work of Lillestrom, who have managed to keep just two clean sheets in nine league outings this season, conceding 14 goals along the way.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
