Promotion-chasing Huddersfield Town are set to host bottom-of-the-table Burton Albion at John Smith's Stadium on Sunday in League One.
The Terriers have won back-to-back games ahead of this weekend and will be confident of securing another three points, while the Brewers were leapfrogged by fellow strugglers Shrewsbury Town after they lost to top-of-the-table Birmingham City on Boxing Day.
Match preview
© Imago
Michael Duff's Huddersfield are currently fourth in League One, having earned 42 points from their 21 matches so far, and are five points from Wycombe Wanderers in the automatic promotion places.
Last time out, the Terriers beat playoff rivals Stockport County 1-0 at home thanks to a first-minute own goal from the Hatters' Lewis Bate.
Duff's side protected their lead for the entire game and made it 12 matches unbeaten in League One, a run that includes nine wins and three draws, and that means that Sunday's hosts are now the second most in-form team in the division.
It is also notable that outside of the automatic promotion places and the anomalous Peterborough United, no team has scored more than Huddersfield's 35 goals this season.
The last time that the Terriers faced a relegation-threatened club, they thrashed Cambridge United 4-0 on December 20, and having dispatched a fellow promotion hopeful on Boxing Day, they will feel capable of repeating their victory over Garry Monk's side this weekend.
© Imago
Contrastingly, Gary Bowyer's Burton are 24th in League One, and have picked up just 12 points from their 21 games this term.
The Brewers are a worrying nine points behind Northampton Town, the first team outside of the relegation zone, and Bowyer, who was appointed earlier this month, has a herculean task on his hands as he tries to save the club from the drop.
To make matters worse, Burton have not benefitted from the 'new manager bounce', and have lost all but one of their last five matches in all competitions - a 0-0 draw with Leyton Orient on December 14.
However, even more concerning is the fact that Sunday's visitors have won just two games all season in the third tier, half as many as fellow relegation candidates Shrewsbury and Cambridge, and three fewer than 21st-placed Crawley Town.
This weekend, the Brewers will be desperate to avoid being cut adrift at the foot of the table with what could be their 14th defeat of the campaign, though it would be surprising if they somehow managed to avoid losing against one of the best sides in the division.
Team News
© Imago
After limping off against Lincoln City on December 14, Huddersfield centre-back Matthew Pearson made his return to action on Boxing Day with a late substitute appearance.
Now that he is back to full fitness, boss Duff could opt to put Pearson back into the XI where he is likely to start alongside Michal Helik and Nigel Cello Lonwijk in the backline.
Elsewhere, wing-back Lasse Sorensen has missed the last couple of games with scar tissue irritation from his past hamstring injury, though he could make the bench on Sunday.
As for Burton, new boss Bowyer decided to line up with five defenders against the current league leaders last time out, and could do so again this weekend given the level of opposition.
With this in mind, expect Udoka Godwin-Malife, Terence Vancooten, Ryan Sweeney, Jason Sraha and Jack Armer to protect goalkeeper Max Crocombe between the sticks.
Huddersfield Town possible starting lineup:
Chapman; Pearson, Helik, Lonwijk; Spencer, Wiles, Kasumu, Kane, Koroma; Ward, Marshall
Burton Albion possible starting lineup:
Crocombe; Godwin-Malife, Vancooten, Sweeney, Sraha, Armer; Gilligan, Watt, Chauke; Bennett, Burell
We say: Huddersfield Town 3-0 Burton Albion
Unfortunately for the Brewers, they have not experienced the 'new manager bounce' and have even hit the foot of the table.
On the other hand, Huddersfield are in excellent form, and though the visitors may put up a fight, it is hard to picture anything other than another win for Duff's side on Sunday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
