Midtable Bristol Rovers host promotion-hunting Peterborough United on Saturday afternoon at the Memorial Stadium in League One.
The visitors are fourth in the league and know that victory this weekend is the only way to ensure that their slim hopes of gaining automatic promotion to the Championship will stay alive heading into the final week of the campaign.
Match preview
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Bristol Rovers have found themselves battling in the middle of the table for the entirety of this season, never dropping below 17th and failing to venture above ninth place.
After a 17th-placed finish last season, new major shareholder Hussain Al-Saeed invested heavily in the summer window signing 13 players, signalling their intent to push higher up the league.
However, a start of four wins, four draws and five losses from the opening 13 fixtures under previous manager Joey Barton was deemed not good enough for the amount invested compared to the rest of the league, resulting in Barton's sacking.
Despite that, interim boss Andrew Mangan and current manager Matt Taylor have been unable to improve on that start as Bristol Rovers have continued to ply their trade in the middle of the table.
With just two games remaining the hosts sit 14th and are equidistant between the playoff spots and the relegation zone - 16 points from each - and while they are guaranteed to be competing in League One again next year, Taylor's side will still be looking for victory as a base to build upon for next season.
As for Peterborough, their performances have earned them a guaranteed spot in the playoff tournament come the end of the season, but they will be hoping to go one step further and finish in second place, earning automatic promotion.
They currently sit fourth in the table and six points behind second-placed Derby, but Darren Ferguson's side boast a game in hand that could see that gap be halved.
That still leaves the outcome of who finishes in second place firmly in Derby's hands, but Ferguson will be hopeful that one of Cambridge United or Carlisle United could produce an upset and give his side the chance to claim that automatic promotion place.
If they are to pull off a miraculous takeover of second place then they must ensure they win all three of their remaining matches, as a Derby win and dropped points for Peterborough would guarantee Ferguson's side to be competing in the playoffs.
Team News
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The hosts were able to avoid any fresh injury concerns in their 1-0 victory over Cambridge United on Tuesday, leaving them with just a single injury concern.
Grant Ward was forced off with injury in Bristol Rovers' 3-1 win against Cheltenham Town last weekend and is not expected to feature in this one.
Brandon Aguilera is likely to step in for the midfielder once again having replaced Ward during that match as well as starting in the midweek fixture.
As for the visitors, Ricky-Jade Jones was forced off with injury just seven minutes after coming off the bench for Peterborough in their 4-1 win against Fleetwood Town, leaving the forward unavailable for this one.
Substitute Jonson Clarke-Harris had an immense effect in that victory, coming off the bench in the 79th minute with the score level before assisting one and scoring twice to win the game for his side, potentially earning his place in the starting lineup for this one.
Bristol Rovers possible starting lineup:
Ward; Hoole, Taylor, Baggott, Vale; Evans, Rossiter; Thomas, Aguilera, Sinclair; Martin
Peterborough United possible starting lineup:
Steer; Katongo, Knight, Edwards, Burrows; Kyprianou, Collins; Ajiboye, Randall, Mason-Clark; Clarke-Harris
We say: Bristol Rovers 1-2 Peterborough United
This fixture has been dominated by Peterborough in recent seasons, winning 10 and losing just one of the previous 17 encounters between the two sides.
With Bristol Rovers having little left to play for, sitting securely in mid-table, and the visitors battling for promotion, we believe Ferguson's side will come out victorious.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
