Preston North End play host to Rotherham United on Good Friday looking for the win that will keep their Championship playoff hopes alive.
In sharp contrast, Rotherham are aware that only a win will do if they want to do everything possible to avoid relegation being confirmed over the Easter period.
Match preview
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Since the beginning of February, Preston have been one of the best performing sides in the Championship, losing just once in their eight fixtures.
Nevertheless, it has taken a 1-0 victory away at Plymouth Argyle - their fifth success during that period - to keep the club in the top 10 ahead of the next round of fixtures.
A game in hand remains in Preston's favour, yet Ryan Lowe is aware that their negative goal difference has the potential to prove pivotal unless they keep putting wins together.
Preston have won nine times at Deepdale this season, losing six, yet they have conceded three more goals than they have scored, while they have not prevailed at their home ground since the middle of February.
Inconsistency continues to blight them on familiar territory, with their last such outing ending in defeat to Stoke City, and that will only encourage their opponents.
There will already be an acceptance behind the scenes at Rotherham that they will be playing League One football during 2024-25 given their prolonged abysmal form.
On the back of nine successive defeats, holding 22nd-placed Huddersfield Town to a goalless draw at the New York Stadium was deemed to be a step in the right direction, at least in the short term.
In the long, Rotherham are a humongous 19 points adrift of safety with just eight matches remaining - they have not posted a league win since Boxing Day.
Leam Richardson will already have one eye on next season, yet he will be aware that his own position in the dugout will not be safe without obvious improvements being made during the run-in.
Team News
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Having started Republic of Ireland's two friendlies against Belgium and Switzerland, the fitness of Robbie Brady will be assessed ahead of this game.
Greg Cunningham and Liam Millar are both alternatives to the veteran at wing-back, while Layton Stewart and Emil Riis could be drafted into the team after Brad Potts and Milutin Osmajic sustained injuries against Plymouth.
Richardson named a workmanlike Rotherham side for the fixture against Huddersfield and he could take a similar approach here.
Barring any injury issues, the team could stay the same with Oliver Rathbone being used in an unfamiliar attacking position.
The likes of Daniel Ayala, Grant Hall and Andre Green are all expected to remain unavailable.
Preston North End possible starting lineup:
Woodman; Storey, Lindsay, Hughes; Millar, Ledson, McCann, Cunningham; Frokjaer-Jensen; Riis, Keane
Rotherham United possible starting lineup:
Johannsson; Kioso, Morrison, Humphreys, Revan; Nombe, Rinomhota, Clucas, Cafu; Rathbone, Wyke
We say: Preston North End 3-0 Rotherham United
Having held Huddersfield to a draw, Rotherham will at least possess the smallest bit of confidence ahead of this contest. That said, we are still backing Preston to cruise to victory, starting quickly and seeing out a professional win.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Darren Plant
