Two sides in need of a run of good results in Allsvenskan will face off when Sirius welcome Hammarby to Studenternas IP on Sunday.
The hosts come into this match in 12th place and on 14 points after 13 matches, just four points above the relegation playoff spot, while their opponents are in 10th with 16 points, though they have played a game more than most of the sides below them.
Match preview
Sirius were handed a comprehensive beating by title contenders Malmo in their last match, and while the scoreline ended 3-0, it could easily have been a whole lot more.
That loss brought an end to a run of three consecutive wins in the league, though it is worth noting that those were the only wins they have managed this season, with their preceding 10 games ending in five draws and five losses.
Christer Mattiasson's side have taken a total of seven points from a possible 18 at home, with a record of two wins, one draw and three losses, though they have both scored and conceded the most goals among all the sides in the bottom half of the league this season with nine and 10 respectively.
Before their match against Malmo, Sirius faced this opponent in a friendly match at the end of last month and were beaten 4-1, which was their fifth loss in their last six matches against Hammarby, while the other match ended in a 1-1 draw.
Meanwhile, Hammarby are a long way from the form that saw them end last season in the Europa Conference League qualifier places and just eight points behind the eventual league winners Hacken.
The visitors come into this match off the back of a 2-0 away loss to Elfsborg, which was their sixth defeat of the campaign, along with four wins and four losses in their 14 league matches to date.
Marti Cifuentes's side had the second-best away record in the league last campaign, with seven wins and three draws in their 15 matches; however, in complete contrast, they are currently the joint-worst performing side on the road this season and have failed to win even a single of their eight away matches to date.
Adding to the woes on their travels is their goalscoring record, which currently stands at six, while they have conceded a whopping 16 in that time, with only Degerfors having shipped more this season.
However, Cifuentes will be able to take some confidence from his side's record against this opponent, having not lost to them in the last six meetings, and the Spaniard will see this as an ideal opportunity to break their duck on their travels for the season.
Team News
Mattiasson has as many as five players missing for this encounter, with Filip Olsson (knee), Oli Omarsson (muscle), Andreas Murbeck (knee) and Patrik Lagemyr (knee) all expected to miss out on this match through injury.
Patrick Nwadike is ineligible for selection and will have to sit this one out due to an accumulation of yellow cards.
However, it is a much worse situation in the opposite dugout, with Cifuentes currently experiencing something of an injury crisis.
Tesfaldet Tekie (muscle), Abdelrahman Boudah, Pavle Vagic (illness), Dennis Collander (ACL) and Jon Gudni Fjoluson are all ruled out for this match and the next few weeks as well.
Mads Fenger and Bubacarr Trawally have returned to training but have not played in a while and will likely have to settle for a place on the bench at best, while Simon Strand will be serving a one-match ban.
Sirius possible starting lineup:
Tannander; Da Graca, JV Persson, Jeng; Bjarnason, Heier, Stensson, Widgren; J Persson, Kouakou, Matthews
Hammarby possible starting lineup:
Blazevic; Karlsson, Kurtulus, Pinas, Adjei; Hammar, Sadiku, Besara; Madjed, Erabi, Mikkelsen
We say: Sirius 1-2 Hammarby
While Hammarby do have a terrible away record on the road this season, this has been a fixture they have thrived in over the years, and they will see this as a genuine chance to bring an end to their winless away run. We expect the hosts to get on the scoresheet but feel that the visitors may just edge it before the final whistle.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
