Sivasspor will be looking to record back-to-back victories when they host Istanbul Basaksehir at Yeni Sivas 4 Eylul Stadyumu on Sunday evening in the Turkish Super Lig.
The hosts still have work to do to ensure their top-flight status for next season, while Basaksehir need a good run in order to chase down the European places.
Match preview
© Reuters
Sivasspor return to action after the international break for the first time this weekend, with the team using their final fixture before the three-week pause as an opportunity to avenge their recent Europa Conference League exit to Fiorentina.
Goals from Isaac Cofie and Samuel Saiz secured Sivasspor a 2-0 win over relegation-threatened Ankaragucu on home soil, with the hosts keeping only their second clean sheet since February.
Those three points lifted Riza Calimbay's men up to 10th in the Super Lig standings, now six points clear of a relegation zone which looked set to engulf them after a disastrous opening to this campaign.
Yigidolar Yigidos did not win a game in the league until the month of October during a difficult period for the club, although that success did come away against Sunday's opponents - doing the double over Basaksehir will be on the minds of all Sivasspor supporters.
© Reuters
Istanbul Basaksehir have already played twice since the resumption of club football following the calendar year's first international break, with the club earning back-to-back wins.
A fiery encounter with league leaders Galatasaray in the Turkish Cup on Wednesday night ended in a 3-2 victory, allowing Emre Belozoglu's men to progress into the semi-final stage of that particular competition.
Pole Patryk Szysz bagged a brace at NEF Stadyumu - managing more goals in a single game than he had recorded during 21 Super Lig appearances so far this season for Basaksehir.
The Grey Owls are not on course to match their regular top-three finishes of the late 2010s this campaign, with the side currently sitting sixth in the league standings, eight points worse off than third-placed Besiktas.
Team News
© Reuters
Sivasspor are likely to be without midfielder Charilaos Charisis this weekend, with the 28-year-old still recovering from an ankle injury suffered in the Europa Conference League tie with Fiorentina last month.
A longer-term absentee for the hosts comes in the form of right-back Robin Yalcin - the German has not featured for the club since the 3-0 win at Alanyaspor back in January.
Basaksehir have a pair of players suspended for their trip to Sivasspor, with Danijel Aleksic and Joao Figueiredo both earning their fourth yellow card of the season last time out in the Super Lig.
Eden Karzev is a doubt due to a muscle injury picked up in March, meaning Berkay Ozcan and Mahmut Tekdemir are certain to retain their starting spots on Sunday evening.
Sivasspor possible starting lineup:
Vural; Paluli, Appindangoy, Goutas, Erdal; Saiz, Cofie, Ulvestad; N'Jie, James, Yesilyurt
Istanbul Basaksehir possible starting lineup:
Sengezer; Sahiner, Duarte, Touba, De Lima; Biglia, Tekdemir, Ozcan, Szysz, Gurler; Keny
We say: Sivasspor 0-1 Istanbul Basaksehir
Sivasspor face a difficult match after not turning out for over three weeks and could be caught cold on Sunday evening in front of their home faithful.
Basaksehir realise it is now or never for their top-three dreams, and we believe they will record a much-needed maximum on their travels in this one.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
