It is a battle of two playoff hopefuls on Tuesday night, when an out-of-form Halifax Town welcome Solihull Moors to the Shay Stadium for a National League encounter.
The Shaymen were narrowly beaten at home by Aldershot Town last time out, while Solihull were unable to get the better of Altrincham in the West Midlands.
Match preview
Halifax Town extended their winless run at the beginning of the new calendar year with a 2-1 loss at home to fellow top-seven hopefuls Aldershot on Saturday afternoon, with a second-half capitulation from the hosts at the Shay Stadium costing them any points from the contest.
The Shaymen went into the half-time break ahead in the battle after Max Wright's 26th-minute strike, but the Spireites hit back in the second period, with goals from Kwame Thomas and Lorent Tolaj condemning Halifax to only their ninth loss in 30 league games in 2023-24.
Having tasted success on just the single occasion since Boxing Day, Chris Millington's men have slid down to 10th in the National League standings with 41 points from 30 fifth-tier matches, sitting five points behind seventh-placed Gateshead who have played a game fewer.
Finding the back of the net has proved to be a real issue for the Shaymen this campaign - their 33 goals scored is the fewest out of any of the sides in the top 15 of the division, and 23-year-old striker Robert Harker is leading the club's Golden Boot race with just four goals.
Halifax have collected three fewer points at the Shay Stadium than on their National League travels so far in 2023-24, with Tuesday's hosts last winning in front of their home faithful on November 18, when a second-half strike Millenic Alli proved enough to see off Wealdstone.
Since the 5-1 triumph over seventh-tier Nantwich Town in the fourth round of the FA Trophy on January 13, Solihull Moors' playoff charge has stuttered slightly, with the West Midlands outfit collecting just a single point from matches against Maidenhead United, Dagenham & Redbridge and Altrincham.
Last time out saw the Moors fail to make the net ripple at their ARMCO Arena home for the first time across all competitions in 2023-24, with a first-period strike from Alex Newby enough to see fourth-placed Altrincham gain a vital three points in the race for the playoffs.
Andy Whing was brought into Solihull in the summer with the aim to take the club to the Football League, and with the season approaching its business end the Moors still have a chance - they sit sixth in the fifth-tier table, one point ahead of eighth-placed Oldham Athletic.
Joining from fellow non-league side Darlington in January 2023, Mark Beck has provided a lot of experience at the top end of the pitch, and the 30-year-old marksman has netted eight times in 29 National League in 2023-24 - three more than any of his teammates in the West Midlands.
The Moors have failed to win any of their last six visits to the Shay Stadium, but goalless draws between the sides in April 2022 and March 2018 prove that Tuesday's visitors are capable of earning something for their efforts in this one.
Team News
After signing in January, former Birmingham City man Adan George made his home debut for Halifax on the weekend, and the striker is in line for another start on Tuesday.
Jack Jenkins signed from Leeds in the closing stages of the January window, starting the Aldershot defeat from the bench but making a cameo.
Solihull were without the services of captain Jamey Osborne on Saturday, and it is unclear whether he will be fit to feature in this one.
Former Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Richard Stearman returned to the bench last time out following an injury layoff, with the centre-back potentially set to start on Tuesday.
Halifax Town possible starting lineup:
Johnson; Keane, Stott, Golden, Galvin, Summerfield; Hunter, George, Wright; Cappello, Cooke
Solihull Moors possible starting lineup:
Hayes; Clarke, Craig, Benn, Morrison; Mafuta, Maycock, Sbarra, Stevens; Warburton, Whitmore
We say: Halifax Town 1-1 Solihull Moors
Halifax have been enduring a poor run of form lately, but the Shaymen will target Tuesday's match as a great opportunity to get back to winning ways.
Solihull's recent record at the Shay Stadium is very poor, and we are expecting that trend to continue on Tuesday evening - to the dismay of the travelling Moors supporters.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
