Charlton Athletic take on Burton Albion at The Valley in the latest round of League One fixtures on Monday afternoon.
The hosts have little to play for at this stage of the season, currently sitting in 12th place, while the visitors are still in the relegation battle, although recent form has helped move them clear of the bottom four.
Match preview
© Reuters
Charlton are firmly rooted in mid-table as we approach the end of the League One season, and these last six games can now be used by the manager to assess which players he wants to keep ahead of next season.
A playoff push was still within the realm of possibility for quite some time, but a run of one win in seven games from February to March killed all of the Addicks' momentum, and a top-six finish will no longer be possible.
That said, Dean Holden's side have been very impressive in recent weeks, losing just one of their last six league matches, winning three, including a resounding 6-0 victory against Shrewsbury Town in their last match at the Valley.
Last time out, Charlton looked like a different side, however, losing 1-0 at Bristol Rovers after failing to create any clear-cut opportunities in the match, with John Marquis bagging a late penalty.
In the reverse fixture against Monday's opponents, the Addicks drew 3-3 in a remarkable game at the Pirelli Stadium, with Charlie Kirk, who has since moved to Burton, scoring a brace.
Indeed, Burton Albion signed Kirk from Charlton near the end of the January transfer window, and the forward has helped them claw their way out of the relegation zone, having previously looked in real trouble of going down.
Burton went on a run of four wins in five games from the end of January until February, and they have remained solid ever since, now sitting seven points clear of the bottom four, having also played one fewer game than almost everyone around them.
Dino Maamria's side have won three of their last five games, including a 2-1 victory against promotion hopefuls Barnsley last time out, with Conor Shaughnessy and Dale Taylor getting on the scoresheet.
Over the previous 15-game period, Burton have picked up 26 points, the joint-seventh highest total in the division, which indicates they could be competing at the other end of the table next year, should they be able to continue their fantastic form.
Team News
© Reuters
Charlton's Todd Kane is closing in on a return from injury, although he has missed the last 14 games due to a hamstring problem and is likely to be eased back into the first team, so Steven Sessegnon should keep his place at right-back.
Mandela Egbo has been nursing a slight injury in recent weeks, but he was fit enough to make the bench against Bristol Rovers last time out, and he could receive some minutes in the latter stages of Monday's game.
Ryan Inniss has also had a thigh problem, but the centre-back was deemed fit enough to feature on Friday and is poised to keep his place in the side, playing next to Michael Hector at the back.
Maamria is unlikely to make any changes to his Burton side following the fantastic win against Barnsley in the last match, and Taylor should continue to lead the line, with the 19-year-old having netted four goals in his last five games.
Kirk is set to support the forward from a right-wing role, and he will be looking to get on the scoresheet against his former club, with Mustapha Carayol completing the front three on the opposite side.
Charlton Athletic possible starting lineup:
Maynard-Brewer; Sessegnon, Inniss, Hector, Terell; Morgan, Dobson, Fraser; Bonne, Leaburn, Rak-Sakyi
Burton Albion possible starting lineup:
MacGillivray; Brayford, Hughes, Shaughnessy, Ashworth; Oshilaja, Powell, Helm; Kirk, Carayol, Taylor
We say: Charlton Athletic 1-1 Burton Albion
The two sides have improved considerably in recent weeks, with Burton looking like a much better team in the second half of the season, and they will both have aims of competing at the top end of the table next season.
Charlton have been solid at home of late, having not lost since a 1-0 defeat against promotion-chasing Sheffield Wednesday in February, while Burton won 3-2 away at Port vale in their last away trip, so the most likely result is a draw.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Dominic Lund
