Alanyaspor and Konyaspor are separated by two places going into Tuesday's Super Lig meeting at the Kirbiyik Holding Stadium.
The Alanya outfit were beaten 4-2 by Adana Demirspor in round 33, while the Anatolian Eagle played out a 2-2 draw at sixth-placed Kayserispor.
Match preview
Alanyaspor thought they had turned the tide with a 1-0 win over Umraniyespor at the end of April, but that positivity gave way to a familiar feeling of disappointment against Demirspor.
Beaten 4-2 by the in-form fourth-placed side, Omer Erdogan's team have secured one victory in their last seven games, losing five in that time.
They are helped by their mid-table standing, which leaves them 10 points clear of the relegation scrap, even if they cannot rise into European contention.
Erdogan's team returned to winning ways in Alanya after two losses, and they seek back-to-back triumphs on Monday after defeating Umraniyespor last month.
However, they must defeat a side that have not tasted defeat in three games, picking seven points in their unbeaten run.
Going further back, the Anatolian Eagle have responded to that 4-0 thrashing at Fenerbahce in February, losing just once — a 2-1 home loss to Demirspor — in eight Super Lig fixtures.
Two places may separate both teams, but Aleksandar Stanojevic's team are eight points clear of their opponents, indicating that the away side are favourites on Tuesday.
Only the league's top three sides have accrued more away points than Konyaspor (24), further pointing to Stanojevic's team's position of superiority.
Be that as it may, the Anatolian Eagle have won just once in five away matches (losing twice), toning down expectations of an easy victory against this week's opposition.
Team News
Arsenal loanee Runar Alex Runarsson lasted just 35 minutes in Alanyaspor's last game with Demirspor, and the goalkeeper may sit this out, with Yusuf Karagoz replacing the Iceland international.
Erdogan still has to contend with the expected absences of Ahmed Hassan, Efkan Bekiroglu, Zinedine Ferhat and Yusuf Ozdemir.
As for Konyaspor, Ahmet Oguz is suspended after an accumulation of cards, ergo ruling right-back on Tuesday.
The trio of Uche Ikpeazu (knee), Endri Cekici (foot) and Muhammet Demir (knee) are sidelined and ruled out of the Alanyaspor game.
Alanyaspor possible starting lineup:
Karagoz; Pereira, Bayir, Rassoul, Balkovec; Lusamba, Fer, Gunes; Karaca, Koulouris, Cavaleiro
Konyaspor possible starting lineup:
Sehic; Oguz, Yazgili, Calvo, Sitya; Dikmen, Bouchalakis; Michalak, Puzuelo, Moreno; Diouf
We say: Alanyaspor 1-2 Konyaspor
Alanyaspor are unbeaten in their last three encounters with Konyaspor, even if two of those games have been draws.
However, they are unlikely to extend that run to four, with the Anatolian Eagle tipped to edge the close encounter, thus taking their unbeaten road run to three.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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