Fourth-placed Doncaster Rovers travel to table-toppers Lincoln City in a clash between two of League One’s most in-form sides.
Lincoln overcame another massive hurdle as they made light work of Portsmouth in midweek. However, an early red card for Jack Whatmough certainly helped their cause on their way to making it 16 points from the previous 18 available.
Michael Appleton's team sit top and look strong as they continue their push for a third promotion in five years.
However, next, they come up against a Doncaster outfit in terrific form themselves having tasted victory in each of their previous three League One away matches, and seven in eight altogether.
To add to that, Darren Moore’s side handed Lincoln their only away defeat of the season back in October, and a win on Saturday would cut the gap between the two sides to three points, with Rovers having two games in hand.
These two have scored 72 times between them this term, meaning it would be a surprise to see a high-scoring game at Sincil Bank on Saturday.
Team news
City, who were able to name a full bench of seven substitutes, picked up no fresh injuries during Tuesday’s win at Portsmouth, so Appleton could name an unchanged side on Saturday.
Theo Archibald is unlikely to be involved as he continues his recovery from a calf injury.
Lewis Montsma was on the bench against Pompey after recovering from Covid, but given Adam Jackson and Joe Walsh's form, the Dutchman may have to wait on the sidelines for a little longer.
For Rovers, captain James Coppinger (calf), Madger Gomes (hamstring) and on-loan Arsenal attacker Tyreece John-Jules (hamstring) all missed the midweek victory over AFC Wimbledon and are major doubts here.
However, Moore expects to have winger Jason Lokilo and possibly midfielder Madger Gomes available to face The Imps after injury.
Predicted lineups
Lincoln City (4-3-3): Palmer; Eyoma, Jackson, Walsh, Edun; Bridcutt, McGrandles, Grant; Scully, Hopper, Johnson.
Doncaster Rovers (4-2-3-1): Balcombe; Halliday, Andersen, Butler, John; Smith, James; Taylor, Richards, Lokilo; Okenbirhie.
Ones to watch
Lincoln City - Jorge Grant
With a 7.39 average rating on WhoScored.com, Lincoln's motor in midfield Grant has been key to The Imps' success so far this season.
16 direct goal contributions in all competitions with 2.4 key passes per game illustrates just how important the 26-year-old is to his side's attacking exploits.
Doncaster Rovers - Fejiri Okenabirhie
As Doncaster's top scorer this season with 10 goals in all competitions, the Nigerian striker will be hoping to start a goal-scoring run after finding the net last time out against Wimbledon.
The 24-year-old has bagged four goals in his last seven appearances, showing his clinical side taking just 1.8 shots per game, so Lincoln would do well to limit his goal-scoring opportunities on Saturday.
Last meeting
It was an excellently taken volley on the cusp of half-time from the recently departed Ben Whitemen that helped Doncaster to a narrow 1-0 victory over The Imps in October.
Luckily for Appleton’s side, they will not have to deal with Whitemen on Saturday, as he left Rovers for Championship side Preston North End earlier in the month.
Donny have won the last five meetings between the two teams, with Lincoln’s last victory coming all the way back in 2004 thanks to a Tim Ryan own goal and a second-half Gary Taylor-Fletcher strike.
What the managers said
Doncaster manager Moore has been impressed with his side’s form of late and hopes they can stay tight at the back as they have in their last two fixtures.
Moore said: “We’re very pleased that we have managed to get seven wins from our last eight league games, but we keep taking each game as they come.
“If we get the performance right in games, then we know the results won’t be too far away.
“I’m delighted with the clean sheet too because that sets a mentality. When I look at previous games, we’ve given away goals in games we’ve won. So, to get back-to-back clean sheets is good.” (via doncasterrovers.co.uk)
City boss Appleton talked up Saturday’s opponents, adding that he expects an end-to-end fixture and a much different challenge to their more recent matches.
The Lincoln manager exclaimed: “They’re very good. They came through in a tight game in a 1-0 win at their place.
“They probably edged the first half, but I thought we were really good in the second half when we pinned when right in.
“It’s going to be a good game of football, a very different game to Tuesday and Saturday [against Northampton].
“It will be a bit more of an expansive game.” (via lincolnshirelive.co.uk)
How to watch
In order to watch this game, which kicks off at 3pm BST, a £10 iFollow match pass must be bought on either of the club's official websites ahead of the game.