Shandong Taishan will look to extend an unbeaten run to 10 Chinese Super League games on Friday, when they travel to take on Henan Songshan Longmen.
The visitors currently occupy sixth spot after 14th top-flight outings, while their hosts are seven points worse off in 11th place following a defeat last time out.
Match preview
Following a sixth-placed Chinese Super League finish last season, Henan Songshan Longmen had to endure a dismal start to the new domestic campaign, as they failed to put a single victory on the board from their opening seven outings, while only earning four points.
The Red Devils have taken steps to correct their form since, though, adding 11 points to their tally in the seven matches since, having firstly ended their wait with a 1-0 home win over Dalian Pro before again being halted by a defeat to leaders Shanghai Port and a draw away at second-placed Shanghai Shenhua.
That latter draw did form the start of an improved four-match unbeaten run between late May and late June, though, as they would then beat strugglers Meizhou Hakka 2-1 and come from behind to draw 2-2 with Zhejiang, before moving onto 15 points from 13 outings with a 1-0 triumph away at Cangzhou Mighty Lions, as Nemanja Covic hit the decisive goal 15 minutes from time to see his side leapfrog their opponents.
They have since dropped back down to 11th place in the Chinese Super League, though, having most recently travelled to take on Changchun Yatai on Monday and suffered a 3-1 defeat despite Covic pulling one back on the stroke of half time, as goals for the hosts from Tan Long and Peter Zulj proved too much alongside a Toni Sunjic own goal.
Such a result did see the Red Devils drop back down to 11th spot, but still with renewed confidence in the camp following their recent improvement, Henan Songshan Longmen will be keen to get back on track and begin climbing back up the Chinese Super League table on Friday.
Their visitors, meanwhile, travel hoping to continue a strong run of form in China's top flight, after going through a slow start of their own, as a defeat away at Meizhou Hakka in early May left them on just five points from their first five outings.
While they were only able to follow up that second defeat of the campaign with three straight draws, those results have since provided the platform for a nine-match league winless run, as the Taishan Dui would then record three consecutive victories over Shenzhen, Qingdao and Dalian Pro, scoring six goals in the process without conceding any at the other end of the pitch.
After taking the winless run to seven matches with a 1-1 draw away at Wuhan Three Towns, Choi Kang-hee's team hosted Changchun Yatai at the end of June and triumphed in style with a 4-1 thrashing courtesy of goals from Crysan, Liu Binbin, Chen Pu and Fernandinho, before most recently meeting league leaders Shanghai Port on home turf on Monday.
Chen Pu put the Taishan Dui ahead just before the break, and while Li Shenglong drew their visitors level in the 74th minute, Shandong Taishan will still be pleased to have come away with a point, albeit dropping behind Changchun Yatai in the process, and now sitting sixth with just a one-point gap to fifth spot and a four-point gap to fourth-placed Tianjin Jinmen Tiger, they will bid to extend their unbeaten run and further strengthen their position in China's top flight.
Team News
Henan Songshan Longmen's attack will be spearheaded by star man Nemanja Covic, who has managed eight goals in just 11 Chinese Super League appearances this term, a tally only topped by one other player in the division.
After being reduced to a substitute appearance last time out, Boyuan Feng will hope to come back in and join Covic up front, while Adrian Mierzejewski will also hope to keep his place in the attacking line.
Tomas Pina will again play a key role in midfield, likely alongside Songyi Li, while Toni Sunjic and Shuai Yang should partner up in the middle of a back four.
Key Shandong Taishan attacker Crysan, who notched up five league goals and two assists in a seven-match span between mid-May and the end of June, missed their meeting with Shanghai Port on Monday, and he could remain sidelined for Friday's contest.
In his absence, Belgian veteran and former Manchester United man Marouane Fellaini led the line, and he should again start up top, having managed four league goals of his own this term, with support from Moises in the centre and Chen Pu and Liu Binbin on the wings.
Behind Moises, Liao Lisheng will again play an important role in the engine room alongside either Yuanyi Li or Zhengyu Huang.
Henan Songshan Longmen possible starting lineup:
Wang; Luo, Sunjic, Yang, Mawlanyaz; Gao, Li, Pina, Zhong; Covic, Feng
Shandong Taishan possible starting lineup:
Wang; Ji, Shi, Zheng, Liu; Lisheng, Huang; Binbin, Moises, Pu; Fellaini
We say: Henan Songshan Longmen 1-2 Shandong Taishan
Henan Songshan Longmen have taken steps forward in recent weeks, but the visitors boast the stronger squad and have been in fine form of their own in recent weeks, and we fancy them to come out on top on Friday.
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Top tip
Sam Varley
