Northampton Town welcome Hartlepool United to Sixfields on Saturday with the Cobblers desperate for three points in the League Two promotion scrap. Kick-off is at 15:00 GMT.

Forget the Premier League title race, the League Two promotion race is on a knife-edge going into the final stages of the season with just six points separating Exeter City in second and Mansfield Town in 10th. 

Northampton sit third with 63 points but could see themselves as low as ninth if they lose on Saturday and results go against them.

Hartlepool are currently sitting comfortably in 12th, 10 points off the play-offs with a lack of consistent results being their downfall this season.

  • Team news

Jon Brady's Northampton have been extremely unlucky with injuries in recent weeks with a growing number of players on the sidelines at the crucial end of the season.

Tyler Magloire was the latest to join the list after dislocating his shoulder last weekend against Bristol Rovers.

In addition to Magloire, Ali Koiki, Shaun McWilliams, Sid Nelson, Josh Eppiah and Idris Kanu are all unavailable.

Hartlepool boss Graeme Lee has far fewer injury concerns with Bryn Morris the only doubt for the Pools.

Aside from Morris, Hartlepool have a full squad available to travel down south on Saturday.

  • Predicted lineups

Northampton Town: Roberts, McGowan, Horsfall, Guthrie, Mills, Sowerby, Lewis, Lubala, Pinnock, Hoskins, Appere.

Hartlepool United: Killip; Byrne, Liddle, Odusina; Sterry, Smith, Featherstone, Crawford, Ferguson; Molyneux, Bogle.

  • Ones to watch

Sam Hoskins has been the biggest threat in front of goal this season.

The versatile forward has played up front, out wide and behind the striker this season and has contributed to plenty of Cobblers goals.

Hoskins has eight goals and five assists so far this season, his last goal involvement was an assist in the Cobblers' win over Tranmere Rovers in early March. 

Luke Molyneux has been excellent up top for Hartlepool this season and will without doubt cause the Northampton backline headaches on Saturday.

Molyneux is the Pools' top scorer this season with eight goals and scored in United's 3-2 win over Newport County in midweek.

  • Previous meetings

There is very little to separate the two sides in their 68 meetings since their first clash in 1953.

Northampton have the edge with 28 wins, 15 draws and 25 Hartlepool wins.

The last time the sides met was in the reverse fixture at the start of October 2021 when Hartlepool were 2-1 winners.

  • Where to watch

While the game is not being broadcast live on TV, both sets of supporters outside of the UK and Ireland can watch the game live via their clubs' iFollow service.