Stockport County take on Salford City at Edgeley Park on Friday night, in a battle between two teams vying for promotion from League Two.
The hosts are fifth in the table heading into the game, while the visitors are just one point lower, currently sitting in sixth place.
Match preview
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Stockport got off to a slow start in their first season back in the EFL, but they have been very impressive for the vast majority of the season, with no team picking up more points over the previous 30-game period.
The Hatters have lost just one of their last 12 games in League Two, managing to defeat some tough opponents during that time, namely third-placed Stevenage, who they beat 2-0 back in February.
Dave Challinor's side are much-improved defensively since the turn of the year, conceding just one goal in their last five games, but they have not been prolific in front of goal either, scoring three in their last six.
During their recent five-game undefeated streak, Stockport have drawn two games they probably would have expected to win, playing out stalemates at home to Doncaster Rovers and Gillingham, while they were also held to a 1-1 draw away at Mansfield Town.
That said, the Hatters are still well in contention for promotion, currently sitting just four points off the top three courtesy of a 1-0 victory away at Swindon Town last time out, with Ryan Croasdale netting a late winner.
Salford are also firmly in the promotion race as we approach the climax of the League Two season, and they strengthened their chances considerably with a 3-1 win against Stevenage last weekend.
The Ammies have now won four of their last six league games, also picking up a vital 5-2 win away at promotion-chasing Mansfield, so it is fair to say they are hitting form at just the right time.
Throughout this campaign, Neil Wood's side have been very good away from home, picking up 30 points from the 19 matches they have played on their travels, the third-best record of any side in the fourth tier, which bodes well heading into a crucial game on Friday.
However, it will no doubt be a tough test for Salford, especially considering they have won just one of their seven previous encounters against Stockport, losing 2-0 at the Peninsula Stadium earlier this season.
Having scored 60 goals in League Two, the Ammies are by far and away the top scorers in the division, and they may need their attackers to be on top form again on Friday night, given that the defence has failed to keep a clean sheet in the last 10 matches.
Team News
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Macauley Southam-Hales has been a long-term absentee for Stockport, failing to feature since Boxing Day, and the right-back is still not in contention, so Kyle Knoyle is poised to keep his place in a wing-back role.
Fraser Horsfall has been unavailable for selection since going off injured in the trip to Colchester United earlier this month, so Akil Wright and Chris Hussey are expected to continue at centre-back.
However, Neill Byrne may have to make way, having limped off in the 1-0 victory at Swindon, with Joe Lewis likely to come into the team.
As for Salford, Matt Smith was only brought on in second-half stoppage time in the recent trip to Swindon, but he still managed to get on the scoresheet, giving Wood a real selection dilemma in attack, with Callum Hendry also impressing.
Liam Shephard is back in contention for the Ammies, having been deemed fit enough to feature for the first time since July last time out, but Matty Lund is likely to keep his place in the team.
Stockport County possible starting lineup:
Hinchcliffe; Wright, Lewis, Hussey; Knoyle, Lemonheigh-Evans, Croasdale, Camps, Rydel; Madden, Wootton
Salford City possible starting lineup:
Cairns; Lowe, Vassell, Leak, McLoughlin; Watt, Lund, Bolton, Mallan, McAleny; Hendry
We say: Stockport County 1-1 Salford City
So much is at stake for both sides in the race for promotion, but they are very evenly-matched, and so we expect they will have to settle for a draw on Friday night.
Salford have been very good away from home all season, but Stockport are League Two's form side, and they have not lost a league game at Edgeley Park since November.
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