Millwall play host to Huddersfield Town on Saturday afternoon looking to record their third successive victory in the Championship.
At a time when the Lions occupy sixth position in the standings, Huddersfield remain down in 23rd spot despite drawing two of their last three games.
Match preview
© Reuters
Despite their constant presence in the playoff race, Millwall had gone almost five months without recording back-to-back wins until earlier this week.
Posting a 2-1 victory over Swansea City built on the 1-0 success at Reading three days earlier, and Gary Rowett will be relieved to end that unwanted streak.
With the teams directly below them failing to win their midweek contests, Millwall now hold a four-point lead over the chasing pack ahead of playing one of the more favourable fixtures on their calendar.
Although Millwall have lost just three times in 18 home encounters this campaign, Rowett knows that complacency cannot become a factor at any point during the run-in.
On a positive note, his team have scored at least once in 10 of their most recent 11 outings in the second tier ahead of facing opponents who are making improvements at the back.
© Reuters
Huddersfield need progress on all fronts if they are to avoid relegation to League One, but Neil Warnock will recognise that his team deserve credit for conceding just twice in games versus Bristol City, West Bromwich Albion and Norwich City.
Last time out, the Terriers came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw with the Canaries, moving the club off the bottom of the table after Wigan Athletic had earned a point the previous night.
However, the Yorkshire outfit have the threat of a points deduction lingering over their heads, effectively meaning that only wins will do in the short term.
Whether that is realistic is another matter. Huddersfield have collected just 10 points from 18 away fixtures this season, their most recent success on the road coming on Boxing Day.
Team News
© Reuters
With this game representing Millwall's last fixture before the international break, Rowett may call up the same players which edged out Swansea.
Jamie Shackleton is an option to add fresh legs in midfield, but the likes of Oliver Burke and Duncan Watmore are expected to remain among the replacements.
Meanwhile, Warnock must decide whether to switch formation having gone with a 4-4-2 strategy at home to Norwich.
Brahima Diarra appears most likely to come back into the Huddersfield XI, potentially for either Martyn Waghorn or Danny Ward.
Matty Pearson is also available to return at right-back should Warnock opt to replace Rarmani Edmonds-Green.
Millwall possible starting lineup:
Long; McNamara, Cresswell, Cooper, Wallace; Leonard, Saville; Honeyman, Flemming, Voglsammer; Bradshaw
Huddersfield Town possible starting lineup:
Vaclik; Edmonds-Green, Lees, Helik, Ruffels; Diarra, Hogg, Rudoni; Koroma, Waghorn, Jackson
We say: Millwall 2-0 Huddersfield Town
With Huddersfield building belief at the back, they will hope to fend off Millwall's obvious threat in the final third, particularly at home. Nevertheless, we can see nothing but a professional Lions win, keeping a clean sheet in the process.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Darren Plant
