Promoted pair Degerfors and Oster will do battle at Stora Valla on Saturday, as they continue their fight for survival in the Allsvenskan.
Only one point separated them in the Superettan last season, but the hosts are now five clear of their struggling visitors in Sweden's top flight.
Match preview
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After pipping Oster to the title by a single point last term, Degerfors have adapted relatively well to life in the Allsvenskan, occupying 10th place in the table with 13 points so far.
Closer to the top six than the bottom three, they are trying to put further distance between themselves and the threat of demotion, but such hopes were dented by a loss to potential title contenders Hammarby last time out.
Despite that defeat, William Lundin's side have actually picked up most of their points on the road, so they now return to Stora Valla intent on improving some modest home form.
With a record of one win, one draw and three losses from five Allsvenskan contests as hosts, Degerfors have been waiting six weeks for a second home success, so they will want to capitalise on meeting another promoted club.
While they edged out Oster to win the 2024 Superettan, Lundin's men took just one point from two league meetings last season, and they now aim to beat them for the first time in nearly five years.
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Oster may have won 2-1 on their most recent trip to Degerfors, last November, but they will return there with just two league victories to their name since earning promotion.
Failing to even beat rock-bottom Varnamo, the Vaxjo club narrowly escaped with a 1-1 draw last time out, as Lukas Bergquist's 90th-minute strike saved face at Finnvedsvallen.
There have, though, been some signs of improvement after a disastrous start to their first top-flight campaign in 12 years - they lost six successive matches without scoring through April and into May.
A subsequent three-game unbeaten streak has helped Oster stay in touch with the teams just above them, but they still sit inside the Allsvenskan's drop zone.
Away from Visma Arena this season, Martin Foyston's men have accrued a mere four points, averaging under one goal per game, and the former Fulham analyst will be aware such form must improve if they are to stay afloat.
Team News
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Degerfors boss William Lundin can welcome back left-sided defender Juhani Pikkarainen from suspension, so the Finland international should return to the hosts' starting lineup.
Marcus Rafferty - who has been sidelined since scoring three goals in four matches - again joins Adi Fisic and Bernardo Morgado on the treatment table, but five-goal top scorer Omar Faraj is available to lead the front line.
Meanwhile, the only men to score more than once for Oster this season are Alibek Aliev and Mattis Adolfsson, both of whom have found the target twice.
Martin Foyston has no new fitness concerns but will be without Daniel Ask due to suspension, after the midfielder picked up another yellow card when appearing from the bench last weekend.
Degerfors possible starting lineup:
Forsell; Hien, Moro, Pikkarainen; Lindell, Ohlsson, Girmai, Diaby; Barsoum, Faraj, Pihlstrom
Oster possible starting lineup:
Wallinder; Gyamfi, Adolfsson, Kricak, Olsson; Seger, Christensen; Tamminen, Soderberg, Sanyang; Aliev
We say: Degerfors 1-1 Oster
Although Degerfors have adapted to the top tier better than last year's promotion rivals, they are struggling to produce results on home turf.
So, there is a good chance Oster can continue their recent uptick by holding the hosts to a low-scoring draw.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
