Salford City make the short trip to the Mornflake Stadium to face Crewe Alexandra for a League Two contest on Friday night.
While the hosts, who sit 17th in the current standings, are set for a mid-table finish this term, the visitors are positioned inside the playoffs and remain in contention to secure an automatic promotion spot.
Match preview
Crewe have made a name for themselves as draw specialists in League Two this season, picking up a solitary point in 15 of their 33 league games – only Lincoln City (18) in League One have drawn more across England's top-four divisions.
The Railwaymen played out a 1-1 draw with Sutton United last weekend – their fourth successive draw and their eighth since the turn of the year – but they were just seconds away from securing all three points at Gander Green Lane.
Dan Agyei scored his 10th goal of the season to put Crewe in front just after the half-hour mark, and after Rod McDonald was sent off for a late challenge midway through the second half, Lee Bell's side were unable to hold on to their slender lead with 10 men, as Coby Rowe netted a dramatic 93rd-minute equaliser for Sutton.
Crewe have now dropped a total of 22 points from winning positions so far this season, an unwanted record that Bell is keen to rectify, but they have at least made themselves hard to beat in recent months, losing just two of their last 12 matches since New Year's Day.
Victory on Friday against Salford, who they beat 4-1 in their only previous home meeting in September 2019, would ease any fears of getting dragged into a potential relegation scrap heading into the final quarter of the campaign.
Coming out on top against promotion-chasing Salford could prove challenging, however, with Neil Wood's side seeking to build on their positive run of form after accumulating seven points from a possible nine available.
After following up a 5-2 victory away at Mansfield Town with a 1-1 draw against Barrow, the Ammies returned to winning ways with a 3-1 home triumph over Newport County last weekend.
Callum Hendry cancelled out Harry Charsley's opener with a strike in first-half stoppage time before Conor McAleny put Salford in front less than a minute into the second half, and Matt Smith then secured all three points with a header in the fifth minute of added-on time.
Wood's men sit seventh in the table and are now just four points behind Stevenage in third, albeit having played two games more, and hopes of securing promotion to League One at the fourth time of asking remain in sight.
Salford's away form will need improving if they wish to remain in the hunt for a top-three spot, though, as they have only won one of their last seven games on the road.
Nevertheless, the Ammies can take confidence from their previous two meetings against Crewe, as a 3-1 home win in December 2019 was followed by a comfortable 3-0 success in August last year.
Team News
Crewe will be without Rod McDonald following his red card against Sutton, while David Amoo (ligament), Zac Williams (hamstring) and Chris Long (ankle) remain sidelined with injuries.
The absence of McDonald could see Bell switch to a back four, with Sean Robertson and Rio Adebisi operating as full-backs either side of Kelvin Mellor and Luke Offord at centre-back.
Conor Thomas could be recalled to centre-midfield, while Courtney Baker-Richardson will likely challenge Elliott Nevitt for a place up front.
As for Salford, Ryan Watson missed the win against Newport with a knock and it remains to be seen whether he will feature in the matchday squad against Crewe.
Richard Nartey and McAleny were withdrawn either side of half time against Newport, the latter of whom forced off following a clash of heads, and the duo are both doubtful for Friday's fixture.
Elliot Watt, who has been shortlisted for February's League Two Player of the Month award, has provided the most assists (14) in England's top-four divisions, and the midfielder is set to join Matthew Lund and Ethan Galbraith in the middle of the pitch.
Crewe Alexandra possible starting lineup:
Richards; Robertson, Mellor, Offord, Adebisi; Uwakwe, Thomas, Finnigan; Ainley; Agyei, Nevitt
Salford City possible starting lineup:
Cairns; Lowe, Vassell, Leak, Touray; Lund, Watt, Galbraith; Bolton, Hendry, Barry
We say: Crewe Alexandra 0-1 Salford City
While Crewe have picked up four points from their last four home games, Salford have accumulated the same number of points from their last four away matches, and a closely-fought contest between the two sides could be on the cards on Friday.
Nevertheless, Salford will be regarded as favourites to come out on top, and they should have enough quality in the final third to breach Crewe's backline to claim a slender victory.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Oliver Thomas
