Antalyaspor will be aiming to move level on points with Alanyaspor in the Turkish Super Lig when the two teams locks horns on Friday night.
The away side were awarded a 3-0 win over Hatayspor last time out due to the latter withdrawing from the league following the devastating earthquake that hit the country, while Antalyaspor played out a 1-1 draw with Konyaspor in their last game in Turkey's top flight.
Match preview
Antalyaspor have only won one of their last five matches in the Turkish Super Lig, which proved to be a 4-0 home success over Kayserispor on March 11.
Since then, the Scorpions have picked up just one point from two matches, losing 2-0 at Adana Demirspor before playing out a 1-1 draw with Konyaspor on April 7.
Nuri Sahin's side had to come from behind to secure a share of the spoils in their last match, with Haji Wright on the scoresheet in the 45th minute after Muhammet Demir had made the breakthrough.
Antalyaspor finished seventh in Turkey's top flight last season, and they have now been present at this level of football since 2015, so it would be a surprise to see them relegated, but the team are currently 13th in the table, just five points clear of the relegation zone.
Sahin's team have struggled for consistency in front of their own fans this term, meanwhile, picking up 20 points from their 13 home league games courtesy of a record of six wins, two draws and five defeats.
Alanyaspor, meanwhile, were awarded a 3-0 win over Hatayspor in their last match due to their opponents withdrawing from the league following the devastating earthquake.
Ersun Yanal's side have picked up 32 points from their 27 league matches this season, which has left them in 10th position in the table, three points above their opponents in this match.
Alanyaspor are eight points clear of the relegation zone and just two points off the top eight, so they should be looking up the division rather than down at this stage of proceedings.
The visitors finished fifth in Turkey's top flight last season, just one point outside of the top four, but they have found it difficult to challenge higher up the division this term.
Alanyaspor have the second-worst away record in the league this season, meanwhile, picking up just seven points from their 13 league games on their travels.
Team News
Antalyaspor will again be without the services of Fedor Kudryashov through injury, but the home side are otherwise in strong shape heading into this contest.
Wright is the team's leading goalscorer in the Super Lig this season with 13, and the 25-year-old will again operate as the centre-forward in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Houssam Ghacha is among those pushing for spots after featuring off the bench last time out, but Sahin could ultimately name the same starting XI for Friday's contest.
Alanyaspor, meanwhile, will be missing Leroy Fer through suspension, while Daniel Candeias and Zou Feddal will be unavailable for selection due to fitness issues.
Koka is the team's leading goalscorer in the league this season with eight, and the 30-year-old is expected to be joined by Ivan Cavaleiro in the final third of the field.
The midfield absences of Candeias and Fer are blows for Alanyaspor considering their contributions this season, but there will still be experience in the middle in the shape of Efecan Karaca.
Antalyaspor possible starting lineup:
Leite; Balci, Toprak, Uzunhan, Vural; Fernando, Akyol; Ndao, Fredy, Larsson; Wright
Alanyaspor possible starting lineup:
Runarsson; Aksoy, Pereira, Bayir, Balkovec; Karaca, Ferhat, Ozdemir, Bekiroglu; Cavaleiro, Koka
We say: Antalyaspor 1-1 Alanyaspor
Alanyaspor will be looking to make it successive wins on Friday night, but we are expecting the points to be shared on Friday, with the visitors only triumphing once on their travels in the league this season, and Antalyaspor dropping points in seven of their 13 home league fixtures.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Matt Law
