Fourth will host third in the National League on Tuesday night, as Pete Wild takes his Halifax Town side to Wrexham's Racecourse Ground in a clash that will have a lasting impact on the outcome of the division’s playoff race.

Both sides are in imperious form, with the visiting Shaymen on a five-match winning run, and the Red Dragons having lost just once in their last ten.

The match will get underway at 7:45pm GMT.

  • Team News

Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson's major injury concern is goalkeeper Rob Lainton, who was stretchered from the field in Saturday's goalless draw with Bromley.

He was replaced shortly after the hour mark in south-east London by Christian Dibble, with Parkinson revealing his number one suffered a suspected broken wrist.

Midfielder Tom O'Connor remains out, while Aaron Hayden is being monitored after being taken off at half-time at Bromley after feeling unwell.

In the opposite camp, Wild must make do without Jamie Allen for the rest of the season after the winger tore his hamstring last week, also against Bromley.

  • Predicted Line-Ups

 

Wrexham: Christian Dibble, Reece Hall-Johnson, Tyler French, James Jones, Max Cleworth, Ben Tozer, Callum McFadzean, Liam McAlinden, Luke Young, Paul Mullin, Ollie Palmer.

Halifax Town: Sam Johnson (GK), Jack Senior, Tom Bradbury, Niall Maher (c), Tyrell Warren, Luke Summerfield, Martin Woods, Matt Warburton, Jamie Thomas, Jordan Slew, Billy Waters.

  • Form Guide

Wrexham's only defeat in their last ten games was a 1-0 reversal away to Torquay United, a run which stretches back to January.

Prior to Saturday, Parkinson's men had won seven matches in a row in all competitions, scoring 19 goals in the process.

The Red Dragons have lost just three games since the turn of the year, maintaining their charge into the playoff spots as they look to secure promotion just 13 months after being taken over by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

However, the visiting Shaymen are no pushover, and are currently riding the crest of a six-match unbeaten run themselves, of which they have won their last five in a row.

As well as an attractive style of football, Wild has implemented a mean defence, and his side now have the joint-best record in the division in that regard, conceding just once in their last four games.

  • Ones To Watch

 Striker Paul Mullin is the obvious star of the hosts' line-up, and is his side's top scorer, having netted 15 goals in 26 games. Jordan Davies is not far behind, hitting the target ten times in 27 appearances, but he is still recovering from injury and may not yet be ready to start.

For the Shaymen, their top scorer Billy Waters also sits on 15 for the season, and has proven to be a revelation since arriving from Torquay in the summer. Centre-back and captain Niall Maher has also been instrumental in the heart of defence recently, and could prove key.

  • Previous Meeting

It was another midweek meeting the last time these two faced off against one another, as they locked horns under the lights at the Shay in November.

Jordan Slew gave Halifax the lead midway through the second half as he collected Matt Warburton’s pass to slot beyond Lainton in the visitors’ goal.

However, a late comeback by the visitors saw James Jones equalise with seven minutes remaining, before Mullin’s injury-time winner handed the Red Dragons all three points.

In the wider picture, the two sides have met frequently, with the first clash coming almost exactly a century ago, on 18th March 1922.

The Red Dragons drew first blood as they ran out comfortable 5-1 winners on that occasion, and there have been 131 subsequent meetings.

Wrexham hold the upper hand overall, but only slightly, having won 52 of those to Halifax's 45, while there have been 35 draws.

The match will be broadcast live on BT Sport 1 in the UK, with coverage starting from 7:15pm.

For viewers watching on BT TV, the channel number is 408, while on Sky TV, it is 413.