Antalyaspor host Fatih Karagumruk in the Turkish Super Lig on Sunday afternoon, with only one point and place separating the sides going into their clash at the Antalya Stadyumu.
Both teams are coming into this fixture off the back of being involved in 2-0 scorelines in their last game, with Antalyaspor picking up an impressive away win at Sivasspor, whereas Karagumruk were defeated by giants Galatasaray,
Match preview
Back-to-back wins in the last two Super Lig games for Antalyaspor abruptly ended a dismal six-match winless run prior to that, reassuring fans that their team should not be getting involved in a scrap for survival this season after finishing seventh last campaign.
Nuri Sahin's men looked set for their sixth loss in seven when struggling Istanbulspor took the lead in Antalya a fortnight ago, but a spirited comeback which culminated in a 97th-minute winner from defender Veysel Sari ensured the hosts took three points home that day and changed the mood around the club's fortunes.
Antalyaspor then travelled to Sivasspor on Monday and ran out convincing 2-0 winners on the night, lifting themselves up to 12th in the Super Lig table with 13 points from their opening 11 fixtures.
With an away trip to Besiktas the final game before the World Cup break after the visit of Fatih, Sahin's side will know the importance of getting a positive result in front of their home supporters on Sunday and leaving them content over the unprecedented mid-season break.
Followers of Karagumruk have been served plenty of goals in their last four games, although you get the feeling the vast majority of those fans would endure less exciting encounters if it meant more precious points on the board for their side.
Andrea Pirlo's charges were involved in a nine-goal thriller in the capital against league-leaders Fenerbahce at the start of October, a game that only ended in defeat due to a 95th-minute heartbreaker from Belgian international Michy Batshuayi.
Next came a pair of comprehensive wins against basement-dwellers Hatayspor and Umraniyespor before that 2-0 loss to Galatasaray most recently which ruined the chance of a longer-term winning run being established.
Pirlo's side have not been top travellers in the Super Lig so far, only managing a single win on their travels in five attempts, with that success against the aforementioned Umraniyespor a fortnight ago.
Team News
Swedish winger Sam Larsson provided an assist in Antalyaspor's victory last time out but was later forced off in the second period with a knock so is a doubt for Sunday's match.
Alassane Ndao suffered a broken leg in the early stages of Antalyaspor's game at Konyaspor in early October and will not be seen in action until March next year at the very earliest, further diminishing the manager's options on the flanks.
Karagumruk have two key players suspended for the trip to Antalya on Sunday, with Fabio Borini receiving his fourth booking of the season against Galatasaray and midfielder Adnan Ugur his marching orders after a poor challenge in the first half last time out.
Efe Tatli and Burak Kapacak are both still sidelined with muscle and cruciate ligament injuries respectively and are unlikely to feature for their team until after the World Cup break.
Antalyaspor possible starting lineup:
Uysal; Toprak, Luyindama, Kudryashov; Balci, Akyol, Fernando, Floranus; Nakajima, Wright, Ghacha
Fatih Karagumruk possible starting lineup:
Viviano; Biraschi, Dresevic, Caulker, Erkin; Shukurov, Durmaz, Ozdoev; Kouassi, Diagne, Frei
We say: Antalyaspor 2-1 Fatih Karagumruk
Antalyaspor are high on confidence after two straight wins and will be favourites to extend that run to three when Karagumruk come to town on Sunday afternoon.
With key players suspended for the visitors, their resistance on the road this weekend should be weaker and may lead to them travelling home empty-handed from Antalya.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
