Burton extended their lead at the top of League One to six points last Saturday and they travel to a Port Vale side who are just a win away from the play-offs.
Albion’s 2-1 victory against Fleetwood last weekend sent them a further two points ahead of runners-up Wigan, who could only muster a draw. Now on 71 points with 10 games to go the Brewers are within touching distance of promotion to the Championship, but perhaps more importantly, they are closer to getting their hands on the title.
The Valiants have taken 10 points from their last possible 12, and sit eight places and 16 points off the visitors. Rob Page’s men managed a second-half comeback in a 3-2 victory against Peterborough last weekend and will fancy their chances against the top side.
Swindon Town striker Nicky Ajose is League One’s top goalscorer so far this season with 20 strikes.
In second place on 65 points, Wigan dropped two points despite pulling off a last-gasp comeback to draw 3-3 against bottom club Colchester. With a league high 14 draws, Athletic need to convert more games into wins if they want to get their hands on the division’s trophy come May.
The Latics take on Bradford who beat Doncaster 2-1 at the weekend. City climbed into sixth, the final play-off place and just seven points behind this Saturday’s opposition. A win will give the Bantams a firm belief that they can keep hold of a coveted top-six finish.
Elsewhere; third-placed Walsall drew level on points with Wigan after their midweek win over Fleetwood. The Saddlers have won their previous two and, with the exception of Gillingham and Bradford, do not need to face any teams in the top-six.
They welcome a Colchester side in dire need of some good results as they face almost certain relegation. On 28 points, an insurmountable nine points from safety with 10 games left, United will rue taking on a club at the other end of the table despite almost stealing a win from Wigan.
Meanwhile, fourth place Gillingham will look to bridge the three-point gap to Wigan and Walsall with a trip to Southend, who have ambitions of their own.
The Gills have a less than impressive away record for a promotion pushing side, taking just 20 points in 18 games. Manager Justin Edinburgh has bought in defender Deji Oshilaja on loan to arrest a slide of just one win in their last five. United put a stop to Barnsley’s impressive run with a 2-0 victory, putting them both just one point apart. The Shrimpers are four points off the play-offs with a win keeping them in the hunt for a top-six finish.
At the other end of the table, Crewe take on Blackpool with a loss for either side potentially condemning at this stage of the season. Alexandra are in 23rd on 30 points, winless in seven and as many points from safety. The Tangerines are one place and five points above their opponents, despite being without a victory in eight games.
Also this weekend; two sides with the worst forms in League One face off as Doncaster host Peterborough. Rovers are without a win since their first game of 2016; back on January 2, a dire run which has taken them to within just one place above the drop zone, level on goal difference.
The Posh have only picked up one point out of a possible 21 and now languish down in 16th on 45 points. Manager Graham Westley may argue that their season is finished in terms of promotion ambitions, but being eight points from the bottom-four, they may well have to start looking over their shoulders.
Saturday’s League One fixtures (15:00):
Bury vs Shrewsbury
Coventry vs Swindon
Crewe vs Blackpool
Doncaster vs Peterborough
Fleetwood vs Barnsley
Millwall vs Sheff Utd
Oldham vs Rochdale
Port Vale vs Burton
Scunthorpe vs Chesterfield
Southend vs Gillingham
Walsall vs Colchester
Wigan vs Bradford