Mjallby AIF and IFK Norrkoping are locked on 19 points in the Swedish Allsvenskan table as they prepare to do battle at Strandvallen on Sunday.
Both sides have recorded five wins, four draws and five losses this season, although Norrkoping have scored nine goals more than Mjallby.
Match preview
Despite seeing just 27% possession while facing a barrage of 21 shots, Mjallby picked up a shock victory over high-flying Malmo last time out, sealing a 2-1 win thanks to goals from David Lofquist and Max Fenger.
Anders Torstensson will be hoping that last weekend's triumph will instigate a consistent spell for his side, who have recorded three wins, three draws and three losses across their previous nine league outings.
Although Mjallby possess the third-best defensive record in the division – having conceded 14 goals in as many matches – Torstensson's men have only managed to outscore bottom club Varbergs BoIS this season.
If MAIF can emulate their defensive efforts at the opposite end of the pitch, they will surely begin to climb the standings, but they cannot expect to escape mid-table obscurity with their current attacking output.
Meanwhile, Norrkoping suffered a 2-1 defeat against Halmstads BK last time out after Marco Lund's first-half red card, with Naeem Mohammed's 91st-minute winner cancelling out Vito Hammershoy-Mistrati's 81st-minute equaliser.
The Comrades have now failed to win any of their previous six league outings, recording two draws and four losses, while they have also conceded exactly two goals in each of their last six matches.
Glen Riddersholm's men started the season in eye-catching form, suffering a solitary defeat across their opening eight games while picking up five victories for good measure.
Since then, however, Norrkoping have taken just two points from a possible 18, and they are now closer to the relegation zone than the European places, having held aspirations of a top-three finish earlier this season.
Team News
Mjallby are still without long-term absentee Silas Nwankwo as the 19-year-old Nigerian forward continues to recover from a cruciate ligament rupture.
Sweden Under-21 goalkeeper Noel Tornqvist will continue between the sticks, having kept four clean sheets in 11 appearances since displacing experienced stopper Alexander Lundin.
Anders Torstensson will likely opt for his preferred 3-5-2 formation, with Herman Johansson and Adam Stahl expected to occupy the wing-back roles.
As for Norrkoping, injured new boy Kevin Hood Jansson is still waiting to make his debut for the club following his release from South Korean side Gangwon FC.
With Marco Lund suspended following last weekend's red card, Niklas Gunnarsson is expected to partner Anton Eriksson at centre-back.
Mjallby AIF possible starting lineup:
Tornqvist; Eile, Rosler, Pettersson; Johansson, Gustafson, Gustavsson, Brorsson, Stahl; Fenger, Lofquist
IFK Norrkoping possible starting lineup:
Jansson, Eid, Gunnarsson, Eriksson, Baggesen; Skulason, Traustason; Khazeni, Hammershoy-Mistrati, Lind; Nyman
We say: Mjallby AIF 1-1 IFK Norrkoping
Given that Mjallby and Norrkoping are locked on 19 points after 14 matches, Sunday's clash looks destined to be a tense and cagey affair between two unpredictable teams.
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