HamKam will aim to move further clear of the bottom three in the Norwegian Eliteserien table on Sunday, when they welcome Brann to the Briskeby Stadion.
The hosts currently sit 13th with just a three-point lead over Sandefjord in the relegation playoff place after recently climbing out of the drop zone, while their visitors have dropped to sixth following consecutive defeats.
Match preview
After finishing one place above the bottom three in the Norwegian Eliteserien last season, HamKam have again found themselves fighting around the bottom end this time around.
Jakob Michelsen's side did win two of their first three league outings in April, but they would then endure a dismal run, picking up a single point from a nine-match run and as a goalless draw with Lillestrom fell between two runs of four straight defeats.
That rut saw the Kamma drop to the foot of the division after 12 rounds of fixtures, but they were eventually able to stop the rot in early July, ending the second four-game losing run with a 2-1 triumph at home to Aaelesund, before they made it back-to-back three-point hauls with a 3-2 triumph away at Sarpsborg courtesy of goals from Henrik Udahl, John Norheim and Kristian Onsrud.
Those victories quickly lifted Michelsen out of the bottom three, and they further improved their position with a third straight triumph, again winning 3-2 in a dramatic contest at home to Stabaek, as Jens Martin Gammelby netted a 94th-minute winner after Pal Alexander Kirkevold and Onsrud had twice put them ahead previously.
After being on a high following that run of victories, HamKam do now head into the weekend on the back of a 3-1 defeat away at Lillestrom, in which Udahl's first-half equaliser was instantly followed by a Vetle Dragsnes goal to restore the hosts' advantage, and with Sandefjord in the relegation playoff place having reduced the deficit back to just three points with a win of their own last time out, the Kamma do not have much breathing room and will be keen to increase their cushion with a return to winning ways on Sunday.
Their visitors are also looking to bounce back from a disappointment with a victory at the weekend, having recently dropped to sixth spot as a result of their dip in form.
Following their promotion from Norway's second tier last year, Brann have consistently found themselves fighting around the top three in the Eliteserien throughout the first half of the campaign, and they indeed sat third after 13 games with 24 points on the board.
They suffered just three defeats in those 13 matches, but that tally has since doubled in the last four outings, as they were firstly beaten 2-0 by Molde before bouncing back with a 1-0 home triumph over Stromsgodset.
Eirik Horneland's side now head into the trip on the back of consecutive league losses, as that latest win was followed by a 3-1 defeat at Tromso, before they were most recently beaten 2-0 at home to Viking last weekend, as Sondre Bjorshol put the visitors ahead around the half-hour mark and Niklas Sandberg converted an injury-time penalty to wrap up the points.
As a result of their recent slump, the newly-promoted outfit do now sit sixth, although still with just a two-point gap to fifth-placed Lillestrom and a six-point gap to the top three, they can quickly climb back into the fight for European contention if they are able to correct their form, starting with a victory on Sunday.
Team News
HamKam's attack should again be spearheaded by Henrik Udahl, who netted his sixth Eliteserien goal of the season in their defeat to Lillestrom last weekend.
In their preferred 3-5-2 setup, he will likely be joined by Pal Alexander Kirkevold up front, while Kristian Onsrud will look to offer further support from midfield alongside anchors William Kurtovic and Kobe Hernandez-Foster.
Behind them, Halvor Opsahl, Fredrik Sjolstad and John Norheim should line up in an unchanged back three.
Brann's star man in attack is undoubtedly Bard Finne, who will spearhead the front line having notched up 11 league goals so far this term alongside five assists in 17 games.
He should be joined up front by wingers Frederik Borsting and Niklas Castro, while captain Sivert Nilsen will offer further support from midfield having contributed six goals of his own in the Eliteserien so far this year.
Felix Myhre is a mainstay in the engine room alongside Nilsen, while Japhet Sery and Fredrik Knudsen will both fight to keep their places in the middle of the back four.
HamKam possible starting lineup:
Jendal; Opsahl, Sjolstad, Norheim; Gammelby, Kurtovic, Onsrud, Hernandez-Foster, Kongsro; Udahl, Kirkevold
SK Brann possible starting lineup:
Dyngeland; Pedersen, Sery, Knudsen, Kristiansen; Wassberg, Nilsen, Myhre; Borsting, Finne, Castro
We say: HamKam 2-1 SK Brann
Although Brann have enjoyed the far stronger first half of the season, they have lost momentum following three straight defeats, while their hosts will be keen to bounce back following their three triumphs and subsequent loss, and we fancy the 13th-placed side to come out on home turf on Sunday.
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Top tip
Sam Varley
