Stoke City and Preston North End meet at the bet365 Stadium on Monday looking for the victory which will catapult either side away from the Championship relegation zone.
However, although the two teams sit in 17th and 15th position in the standings, they sit as close to the playoffs as they do to the bottom three.
Match preview
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A match involving Alex Neil and former club Preston will always drum up extra interest, but both parties will be keen to focus on their own business ahead of this fixture.
Neil departed Sunderland for the Potteries earlier this season hoping to spearhead a promotion bid, but the Scot has posted just six wins from 19 matches, losing eight times.
Stoke have improved recently, taking five points from three fixtures, although they saw that unbeaten streak ended on Friday as they succumbed by a 1-0 scoreline to leaders Burnley.
While conceding just once to the relentless leaders may be deemed to be a positive in some quarters, it is a result which keeps Stoke looking over their shoulders towards the relegation zone.
Their season has not been helped by a dismal return at the bet365 Stadium, collecting just 12 points from as many games, and that will need to improve if they wish to have any hope of a late playoff bid.
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Sitting just two points adrift of the top six, Preston will have their own ambitions of challenging for promotion, but Ryan Lowe's side are currently too inconsistent to be regarded as serious candidates.
Having previously won three games in succession, Preston have since recorded four defeats from five games, including suffering three losses in a row.
Although Preston conceded just five times in defeats to Queens Park Rangers, Huddersfield Town and West Bromwich Albion, just one goal was scored in those fixtures after they previously hit four at Blackburn Rovers.
Despite there being a feeling of what could have been, Preston remain within three points of fourth place, even though they start the latest batch of fixtures comfortably in the bottom half of the table.
Team News
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Having tinkered with his Stoke side for the Burnley game, Neil could do the same here with Liam Delap in line to be recalled in the final third.
Tariqe Fosu-Henry may feature on the flank, allowing Josh Tymon to return to left-back, but Josh Laurent may remain on the substitutes' bench due to his lack of recent game time.
Neil also has the option of reverting to a back three to match Preston's usual formation.
On the back of defeat to West Brom, Lowe may tinker with his Preston side, potentially recalling Ben Woodburn for Ched Evans in attack.
Alistair McCann could also come back into the fold, but this game will come too soon for Andy Hughes, Robbie Brady and Troy Parrott.
Stoke City possible starting lineup:
Bonham; Clarke, Souttar, Wilmot, Tymon; Baker, Thompson; Campbell, Smallbone, Fosu-Henry; Delap
Preston North End possible starting lineup:
Woodman; Storey, Bauer, Lindsay; Potts, Browne, Whiteman, Fernandez; McCann, Woodburn; Riis Jakobsen
We say: Stoke City 2-1 Preston North End
On the back of three defeats, Lowe will recognise the importance of his Preston side getting back on track. However, despite their setback versus the leaders, we expect Stoke to shake off that disappointment and come through a close match with three points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Darren Plant
