Both searching for important points in the context of their respective campaigns, MK Dons and AFC Wimbledon will do battle at Stadium MK on Tuesday night in League Two.
The Dons are coming into this clash after a loss against Morecambe, while the Wombles were defeated at the home of newly-promoted side Wrexham.
Match preview
MK Dons suffered their second loss of the calendar year on Saturday afternoon, when strugglers Morecambe arrived at Stadium MK and escaped with all three points, but that did not look set to be the case as Max Dean put the hosts ahead after just two minutes of the contest.
The visiting Shrimps grew into the game and two second-half strikes from Jordan Slew and Charlie Brown condemned the Dons to only their second loss in the last seven league matches, meaning hope of earning promotion back to League One is very much rife in Buckinghamshire.
Mike Williamson's side currently occupy seventh position in the fourth-tier standings after collecting a highly-respectable total of 42 points from their opening 26 games, ahead of eighth-placed Gillingham courtesy of goal difference, highlighting how tight the race for the playoffs spots is.
The Dons have welcomed Dan Kemp back from his loan spell at divisional rivals Swindon Town, where the 25-year-old bagged 14 goals in just 27 League Two appearances - Tuesday's hosts will be hoping the attacker can continue his goalscoring form and seal his side a place in the post-season picture.
AFC Wimbledon suffered their maiden league defeat of 2024 at the Racecourse Ground last Saturday afternoon, when Steven Fletcher and Paul Mullin breached the net of Alex Bass to seal a two-goal success for second-placed Wrexham, who are well on course for back-to-back automatic promotions.
As for the Wombles, the playoff route appears to be the most-likely path to League One football in August, although they are currently off the top-seven pace, sitting down in 10th, but the visitors know a win on Tuesday would see them leapfrog their seventh-placed hosts in the table.
A product of the Swansea City youth ranks, Ali Al Hamadi has been the standout attacker player for Wimbledon this season, making the net ripple on 13 occasions in just 23 fourth-tier appearances, earning his place in the Iraq squad for this month's Asian Cup in Qatar.
The Wombles' away form has actually been better than their record at the Cherry Red Records Stadium, with Tuesday's visitors to Stadium MK collecting 21 of their 39 League Two points on the road, losing just three of their 14 away matches in the division to date in 2023-24.
Team News
MK Dons are expected to make a number of changes to the side which lost against Morecambe, with Lewis Bate and attacker Ellis Harrison pushing for starts.
Dean Lewington came off the bench to feature against the Shrimps on Saturday - the 39-year-old has played 684 times for the Dons over a 16-year period.
Wimbledon could opt to freshen up their attacking after failing to register a goal at Wrexham, meaning 23-year-old Ryan McLean could be in line for his first league start of the term.
With Al Hamadi on international duty in the Middle East, the likes of Josh Davison, Aron Sasu and James Tilley will be tasked to make the net ripple.
MK Dons possible starting lineup:
Marschall; Williams, O'Hora, Harvie; Lofthouse, Payne, Robson, Tomlinson, Kemp, Bate; Dean
AFC Wimbledon possible starting lineup:
Bass; Biler, Lewis, Johnson, Currie; Reeves, Little; Tilley, Sasu, McLean; Davison
We say: MK Dons 2-1 AFC Wimbledon
MK Dons are currently in the playoffs and will be desperate to keep hold of their top-seven status against their bitter rivals on Tuesday night.
Wimbledon are struggling in front of goal without their leading marksman, and we expect the visitors to return home without points from this one.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Carter White
