Maidstone United host Oldham Athletic in what looks set to be a crucial match in the lower reaches of the National League on Saturday afternoon.
The two sides are separated by just a point and a position in the fifth tier going into this clash, albeit Oldham have played two games less so have the matches to steer clear of trouble if they can collect maximums.
Match preview
After a torrid run of 12 National League matches without a win, Maidstone earned a vital three points and clean sheet on the road against fellow-strugglers Scunthorpe United last weekend courtesy of second-half strikes from Jack Barham and Roarie Deacon.
That win was enough to move Hakan Hayrettin's side out of the relegation zone and into 20th position, having collected 17 points from their first 19 fixtures of this campaign.
The step up to this level was always going to be a challenge for last season's National League South winners, with the sole aim to keep the club in the fifth tier after a three-year absence.
Maidstone possessed the best defensive record in National League South last campaign but have strayed from that defensive solidity in non-league's highest level of football, conceding a mammoth 42 times in 19 matches so far, more than any other side in the division.
The Stones will be desperate to record back-to-back wins for only the second time this season and may see a home matchup against relegation-candidates Oldham as an ideal chance to do just that.
Following nearly a decade of battling relegation in the third and fourth tiers of English football, some Oldham fans may have theorised that the drop down to non-league would see their side involved in proceedings at the top end of the table for once, but unfortunately that hypothesis could not be further from reality at the moment.
The financially-troubled Latics sit just inside the relegation places in the National League, a point from safety and their opponents on Saturday Maidstone, with hopes of an immediate return to league football becoming increasingly faint as the season progresses.
Three consecutive league defeats accompanied with an FA Cup exit at the hands of Wrexham in the last four has not suggested anything other than that Oldham face a genuine fight to avoid playing regional football next season, a sobering thought for a club that was one of the founding members of the Premier League 30 years ago.
A maximum at Maidstone this weekend would be Oldham's first on the road this season, with David Unsworth's side drawing three times and losing five in eight away league matches so far this term, a record worse than any other club in the fifth tier.
Team News
Maidstone will welcome back skipper Gavin Hoyte to the matchday squad after he served a one-match ban for a red card collected in the loss at Eastleigh, meaning George Fowler could lose his place at right-back despite being involved in the Stones' first win in 12 National League matches.
Leading scorer Jack Barham got a goal off the bench for Maidstone in the win against Scunthorpe and will fancy his chances of being reintroduced into the starting XI after losing his place to Josh Fawole in recent weeks.
Oldham have utilised the loan market to bring in midfielder Ellis Chapman from Cheltenham Town this week, and the 21-year-old could make his debut on Saturday at Maidstone as Unsworth looks to improve the quality of his side.
Defender Jordan Clarke is a doubt for the trip to Kent with a toe injury that has plagued his start to the season, but the Latics will have goalkeeper Jayson Leutwiler available after he was omitted from Canada's World Cup squad.
Maidstone United possible starting lineup:
Sandford; Greenridge, Mensah, Binnom-Williams, Galvin, Hoyte; Booty, Corne, Odusanya, Deacon; Barham
Oldham Athletic possible starting lineup:
Norman; Clarke, Maynard, Hogan; Kitchen, Peck, Rooney, Sheron; Abraham, Tollit, Hope
We say: Maidstone United 1-0 Oldham Athletic
Both sides are in a similar position in the National League heading into this clash but Maidstone are coming off a much-needed win against Scunthorpe whereas Oldham tasted defeat once again against Barnet.
Considering the Latics have not won away this season, it is hard to back anything other than a positive result for Maidstone this weekend even if Oldham are able to bring Chapman straight into the starting XI.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Carter White
