Two sides at contrasting ends of the Chinese Super League standings go head to head on Saturday when Shanghai Port and Dalian Pro lock horns at the Pudong Football Stadium.
While the Red Eagles head into the weekend looking to extend their five-point lead at the top of the league table, the visiting side are currently rooted to the bottom of the pile.
Match preview
Shanghai Port maintained their fine run of results as they fought back from behind to salvage a 1-1 draw with Shandong Taishan at the Jinan Olympic Sports Center Stadium on Monday.
In an end-to-end affair, China international Chen Pu put the hosts in front on the stroke of half time, but substitute Shenglong Li struck in the 74th minute to force a share of the spoils.
Prior to that, Javier Pereira's men were on a three-match winning streak, including a comfortable 3-1 victory over Guangzhou FC in the third round of the FA Cup on June 24.
With Monday's result, Shanghai Port have now gone nine consecutive away games without defeat this season, claiming seven wins and two draws since January's penalty-shootout loss to Zhejiang in the FA Cup semi-finals.
The Red Eagles have picked up 10 wins, three draws and lost one of their 14 matches this season to collect 33 points and sit at the summit of the Super League table, five points above second-placed Shanghai Shenhua.
Dalian Pro, on the other hand, continue to struggle for results in the league as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Qingdao Hainiu when the sides squared off last Monday.
Following a goalless first half at the Dalian Suoyuwan Football Stadium, Felicio Brown Forbes broke the deadlock from the spot in the 73rd minute before Liangming Lin struck in the third minute of stoppage time to force a share of the spoils.
Hui Xie's men have now failed to taste victory in their last 13 league matches, picking up six draws and losing seven since a 2-1 victory over Nantong Zhiyun on April 15.
Despite their struggles in the league, Dalian Pro have reached the fourth round of the FA Cup courtesy of a deserved 2-0 victory over Yanbian Longding at the Yanji Nationwide Fitness Centre Stadium on June 22.
With nine points from 14 matches, the Blue Hawks are currently rooted to the bottom of the league table, level on points with 15th-placed Qingdao Hainiu, but they could move into 12th spot with all three points this weekend.
Team News
China international Wu Lei has been involved in 13 goals in his last 16 games for club and country and the 31-year-old should spearhead the Shanghai Port attack once again.
He should be joined in the final third by Wenjun Lyu and Mirahmetjan Muzepper, who have started the last two games, but Li will also push for a starting role following his impressive cameo on Monday.
At the opposite end of the pitch, we expect Pereira to name an unchanged back four of Shuai Li, Linpeng Zhang, Tyias Browning and Shenchao Wang, with Junling Yan starting in goal.
Like this weekend's hosts, Dalian Pro head into the weekend with a clean bill of health and no suspension concerns, giving Xie the luxury of a full-strength squad at his disposal.
We expect the 48-year-old to name an unchanged XI for the third consecutive game, meaning that Jiahui Huang and Xianjun Wang should form the centre-back pairing, with Wang Yu, Nemanja Bosancic and Peng Lu retaining their roles at the centre of the park.
Shanghai Port possible starting lineup:
Yan; Li, Zhang, Browning, Wang; Xu, Cai; Oscar; Lyu, Muzepper, Lei
Dalian Pro possible starting lineup:
Wu; Z Wang, Huang, X Wang, He; Yu, Lu; Tsonev, Bosancic, Lin; Lobi
We say: Shanghai Port 3-1 Dalian Pro
While Dalian Pro set out in search of a morale-boosting victory, they face the stern challenge of facing a Shanghai Port side who have lost just one game this season. Pereira's men have enjoyed the better of this fixture and we are backing them to extend their dominance over the Blue Hawks.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joshua Ojele
