Altrincham will be bidding to strengthen their grip on a playoff position in the National League when they welcome Dorking Wanderers to Moss Lane on Tuesday night.
The hosts are currently fourth in the table, boasting 49 points from their opening 29 matches of the campaign, while Dorking sit down in 19th, just two points ahead of the relegation zone.
Match preview
Altrincham have won 13, drawn 10 and lost six of their 29 league matches this season to pick up 49 points, which is good enough for fourth position in the table at this stage of the campaign.
The Robins will enter this match off the back of successive wins, meanwhile, recording a 4-0 victory over Eastleigh on January 27 before beating Solihull Moors 1-0 on Saturday afternoon.
Phil Parkinson's side are only three points ahead of eighth-placed Oxford Athletic in a fascinating battle for the playoffs, demonstrating the importance of picking up another positive result in this match.
Altrincham recorded a 4-1 win over Dorking in the corresponding game during the 2022-23 campaign, and they have been in strong form at home this term, collecting 28 points from 14 matches, suffering just two defeats.
Dorking, meanwhile, have only managed to pick up 17 points from their 14 matches on their travels, and a difficult campaign has left the club down in 19th position in the table.
Marc White's side recorded a 3-0 victory over Boreham Wood in their last away match on January 27, but they will enter this match off the back of a 3-1 home defeat to Fylde on Saturday afternoon.
Dorking are only two points ahead of the relegation zone, but they have two games in hand on both 21st-placed Kidderminster Harriers and 22nd-placed Ebbsfleet United.
White's team are only three points off Dagenham & Redbridge in 14th, meanwhile, so the picture could change with a couple of positive results in quick succession.
Dorking have struggled defensively this season, conceding 50 times in their 30 league games, and they will be welcoming an Altrincham side that has scored 54 times, making them the fourth-best attacking team in the division during the 2023-24 campaign.
Team News
Chris Conn-Clarke has been Altrincham's main source of goals this season, finding the back of the net on 15 occasions from central midfield, and he will again be in the side on Tuesday.
There are not expected to be any real surprises when it comes to the home side's XI, with Justin Amaluzor, who has six goals this season, featuring alongside Regan Linney in the final third of the field.
Alex Newby has also been in impressive scoring form, finding the back of the net on eight occasions, and the 28-year-old will again feature in a wide area for the playoff hopefuls.
As for Dorking, Jason Prior is their leading goalscorer this season with nine, and he will again feature in the final third of the field on Tuesday night.
Tom Blair has three goals to his name this term, meanwhile, and the 24-year-old is also expected to retain his position in an attacking area.
Head coach White will need to assess the fitness of his players, but it is likely that Alfie Rutherford will miss out with the injury which forced him off in the first half of Saturday's loss to Fylde.
Altrincham possible starting lineup:
Gould; Banks, Jones, Baines, Esborne; Newby, Conn-Clarke, Marriott, Southern-Cooper; Amaluzor, Linney
Dorking Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Male; Francomb, Hollis, Taylor, Carter; Pybus, Ottaway, Taylor, Muitt; Prior, Blair
We say: Altrincham 2-0 Dorking Wanderers
Altrincham have proved themselves to be one of the best teams in the National League this season, and Tuesday's affair is a tough assignment for Dorking. It might be a cagey affair at times, but we are expecting the home side to navigate their way to all three points.
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Matt Law
