Relegation-threatened Accrington Stanley are set to host promotion-chasing Grimsby Town at Wham Stadium on New Year's Day in League Two.
The hosts are without a league win since early November, while the visitors will be full of confidence and looking to make it three victories in a row on Wednesday.
Match preview
John Doolan's Accrington are currently 22nd in League Two, having earned 19 points from their 22 games so far.
Just one point above Carlisle United in the relegation zone, Stanley have not won a league match since November 9, when they beat Chesterfield 3-0 on the road.
In the reverse of Wednesday's fixture, Doolan's side were thrashed 5-2 by Grimsby, a game in which Accrington conceded four in the first half and only managed to produce consolation efforts to show for all their attacking effort.
Since that match, this week's hosts have lost four of their last five fixtures, drawing once in that stretch against Fleetwood Town, though it would be fair to say that Stanley were in good form prior to their clash with the Mariners, as they were unbeaten in the seven previous games across all competitions.
Regardless, Doolan's side are at serious risk of relegation this term unless results improve, and last time out they were troublingly beaten 2-1 on the road by fellow strugglers Carlisle.
This week, Accrington will be up against the team that started their current run of poor form, and will hope that at the start of the new year they can make a fresh start of their own and pull away from the relegation zone.
Meanwhile, David Artell's Grimsby are in the race for promotion from League Two with 37 points from their 23 games to date.
Goal difference aside, the Mariners have the joint second most points in the division, and though Walsall are already 12 points clear at the top of the table, the other automatic promotion place is definitely a realistic target for Artell's side this season.
Most recently, Grimsby beat rivals Port Vale 3-0 at home, and with that win included, they have recorded four wins from their last six matches, stretching back to their drubbing of Accrington.
However, in contrast to their hosts on Wednesday, the Mariners were in poor form before their clash in early December and had in fact won just one of the seven games prior.
On Wednesday, the visitors will be looking for three points to take them second in the table above Port Vale, Doncaster Rovers, Notts County and AFC Wimbledon, all of whom have 37 points.
Team News
Accrington boss Doolan will still be without Jake Batty and Jay Rich-Baghuelou this week, though midfielder Dan Martin, who has not featured in a matchday squad since October, made a return against Carlisle as a substitute.
While he builds fitness, expect Nelson Khumbeni and Liam Coyle to start in the middle of the park, along with Connor O'Brien, who missed the last game through suspension.
Elsewhere, striker Dara Costelloe, who picked up an injury against Salford City on December 21, will be replaced in the XI once again by Shaun Whalley.
As for Grimsby, right-back Lewis Cass was withdrawn with an injury against Port Vale, and Tyrell Warren is likely to start alongside Harvey Rodgers, Cameron McJannett and Denver Hume in the backline.
Similarly, Evan Khouri may be joined by Kieran Green in midfield after Jordan Davies picked up an injury last time out.
Accrington Stanley possible starting lineup:
Crellin; Aljofree, Rawson, Awe; O'Brien, Coyle, Khumbeni, Love, Woods; Walton, Whalley
Grimsby Town possible starting lineup:
Wright; Warren, Rodgers, McJannett, Hume; McEachran; Luker, Green, Khouri, Ainley; Rose
We say: Accrington Stanley 0-2 Grimsby Town
Accrington have been struggling since their loss in the reverse fixture, and are not likely to fare any better on Wednesday.
Grimsby will be keen to keep up with the pack of clubs fighting for the automatic promotion spot behind Walsall, and it is difficult to picture anything other than a routine win for the visitors on New Year's Day.
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