Two sides level on points in the top half of the Swedish Allsvenskan table go head to head on Sunday as GAIS play host to Hammarby at the Gamla Ullevi.
This will be the first meeting between the two teams since a thrilling 3-3 draw in February 2018 and the Mackerels head into the weekend unbeaten in each of their last three encounters since June 2014.
Match preview
Heading into the midway point of the season, newcomers GAIS will feel delighted with their performance so far as they find themselves comfortably seated in the top half of the table.
Having secured a second-placed finish in the second tier last season to end their 12-year absence from the top flight, the Mackerels have won seven of their 12 games so far to collect 21 points and sit fifth in the table, level on points with Sunday's visitors.
Currently on a run of five back-to-back home wins in the Allsvenskan, GAIS have made their home turf a daunting battleground for visiting teams, and this has been pivotal to their impressive start to life in the big leagues.
After a five-week break, Fredrik Holmberg's men now head back to the Allsvenskan, where they will be looking to return to winning ways after suffering a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Halmstad on June 1.
In that encounter, Villiam Granath, Amir Al-Ammari, Phil Ofosu-Ayeh and Naeem Mohammed all found the back of the net as Halmstads stormed to their sixth league win of the season at the Idrottsplats Orjans Vall.
Since then, GAIS have been involved in two friendly matchups, playing out a goalless draw with Halmstads on June 19 one week before picking up a morale-boosting 3-1 victory over Vendsyssel at the Hjallbovallen.
Hammarby, on the other hand, failed to win any of their two friendly matches during the break as a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Brommapojkarna on June 23 was followed by a 2-2 stalemate with Varnamo.
Head coach Kim Hellberg will hope that his side can at least build on the draw against Varnamo as they return to action in the league where they will be looking to make it three wins from three matches.
Since their 3-0 defeat against Mjallby at the Strandvallen Stadium on May 15, the Bajen have brushed aside AIK, Sirius and Djurgarden while scoring eight goals and keeping two clean sheets.
While Hammarby will be looking to pick up where they left off in the league, they have won just two of their nine away matches across all competitions since the turn of the year while losing six and claiming two draws so far.
Team News
GAIS will take to the pitch without the services of Albanian defender Egzon Binaku, who has been out of action since picking up a knee injury back in March.
He is joined on the club's injury table by 24-year-old forward Richard Friday who continues his lengthy spell on the sidelines due to an ACL injury.
Jack Cooper-Love was on target in the 3-1 comeback victory against Vendsyssel last time out and the Elfsborg loanee should spearhead GAIS' attack once again, alongside Gustav Lundgren and 19-year-old Amin Boudri.
As for Hammarby, Danish midfielder Frederik Winther has been ruled out since sustaining an injury against Malmo back in April and will play no part in Sunday's game.
Nahir Besara has been on song for the Hammarby this season and the 33-year-old forward, who boasts five goals and five assists in 12 league matches, will be one to keep an eye on.
GAIS possible starting lineup:
Krasniqi; Waengberg, Noren, Frej, Thomasson; Henriksson, Ibrahim, Lindberg; Lundgren, Cooper-Love, Boudri
Hammarby possible starting lineup:
Dovin; Skoglund, Kurtulus, Vagic, Pinas; Hammar, Tekie; Schellhas, Besara, Toure; Guel
We say: GAIS 3-2 Hammarby
The last nine meetings between GAIS and Hammarby have produced a combined 30 goals and we anticipate a thrilling contest at the Gamla Ullevi with plenty of goalmouth action. Holmberg's men have been near impenetrable at home this season and we fancy them to come away with all three points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
