Mid-table Tranmere Rovers host playoff hopefuls Crawley Town at Prenton Park on Saturday afternoon.
The hosts head into this game free of any relegation concerns, while the visitors are just a point off seventh-placed AFC Wimbledon as they continue their push for the playoff spots.
Match preview
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Tranmere have overcome a horrendous start to their season that left them flirting with the relegation zone throughout the early stages, and now find themselves comfortable with a 17-point gap over 23rd-placed Forest Green Rovers.
A large part of that is due to the guidance of the experienced Nigel Adkins, who originally took charge on an interim basis following the dismissal of Ian Dawes in September, after he had taken his side to just one victory in the opening seven league games.
Adkins initially struggled to pick up results for his team, but a 3-0 victory over Forest Green in November kickstarted a run of 12 wins and four draws in 23 games that has seen Tranmere rise up the table and into 15th place ahead of this match.
A large part of that climb away from the relegation battle is the Rovers' fantastic form at Prenton Park, where they have won 11 of their 19 games and lost only six, making them the seventh-best club in League Two when playing in front of their home crowd this campaign.
The hosts now look destined to compete in League Two for the fifth straight season thanks to their excellent run of form since November, but Adkins's team will still be hoping to finish the season on a high.
As for the visitors, they currently reside in ninth place and are just a point behind seventh-placed Wimbledon, but a game in hand on eighth-placed Walsall and two over Wimbledon leaves Crawley in a strong spot to finish in the playoff positions come the end of the season.
The 2022-23 campaign saw the Red Devils retain their long-term place in the fourth division by the skin of their teeth as they finished in 22nd place and just three points ahead of Hartlepool United.
That was Crawley's lowest finish in League Two since they joined the division for the 2015-16 season, and now just a year later they are looking to return to League One for the first time in nearly 10 years.
Scott Lindsey's side come into this game having won five of their last seven games and losing just once in that time, but with their away form seeing them lose more than they have won this season they will now have the difficult task of beating Tranmere at their home.
Playoff rivals Wimbledon have a tough game against fifth-placed Crewe Alexandra this weekend and Walsall are not playing until next week, meaning this match serves as a huge opportunity for Crawley to enter into the playoff positions for the first time since matchday 11.
Team News
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After a fantastic 1-0 away victory over title challengers Wrexham last weekend, Adkins is likely to name an identical lineup this time around.
Robert Apter has been in fantastic form in recent outings, scoring four and assisting one in his last eight games, and the midfielder is likely to be hugely important for the home team again against Crawley.
Crawley have three absentees ahead of this game through injuries, with Ben Gladwin, Dion Conroy and Liam Kelly still on the treatment table.
Lindsey's side provided a solid performance against second-place Stockport County in the previous match which saw them pick up a point thanks to Klaidi Lolos's 83rd-minute equaliser.
Lolos has now scored in all of his last three outings ahead of this game and the 22-year-old is expected to be vital between now and the end of the season as Crawley look to finish in the playoff positions.
Tranmere Rovers possible starting lineup:
McGee; O'Connor, Yarney, Turnbull, Wood; Apter, Walker, Hendry, Saunders; Jennings, Norris
Crawley Town possible starting lineup:
Addai; Wright, Mukena, Maguire; Gordon, Williams, Lolos, Forster; Darcy, Kelly; Orsi-Dadomo
We say: Tranmere Rovers 1-2 Crawley Town
Tranmere have been brilliant at home for the majority of this season but they have fallen to two defeats at Prenton Park in their last six games, while Crawley have won three of their last four games on the road.
The visitors have been victorious in both of the previous two meetings between these sides, scoring at least two in each of these games, and we expect them to repeat this on Saturday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
