Plymouth Argyle will look to send their survival bid to the final day of the season when they travel to Deepdale for Saturday's Championship fixture against Preston North End.

The Pilgrims are languishing at the foot of the table, while the 18th-placed visitors are sitting three points above the drop zone following a poor run of form.

Match preview

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Preston have been dragged towards the bottom three having failed to win any of their six league matches since the March international break.

After losing to Derby County, the Lilywhites went on to play out back-to-back draws, before suffering three consecutive 2-1 defeats despite taking the lead in the last two of those losses.

Lewis Gibson netted a first-half opener in Monday's away clash with Hull City, only for Joel Gelhardt to net a brace of penalties in the second period to condemn Preston to their fifth defeat in six Championship away games (D1).

Paul Heckingbottom will hope that his side can secure their safety this weekend to avoid a scenario where they need a result in their final game against Bristol City to preserve their 10-season stay in the Championship.

Preston have proven a tough team to beat on home turf, having lost just one of their previous 15 league matches at Deepdale (W4, D10), although their only defeat in that period took place in their most recent home outing against Queens Park Rangers.

They have also avoided defeat in their last seven home matches against Plymouth (W4, D3), including victories in their previous two head-to-head meetings at Deepdale.

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Plymouth may be propping up the Championship table, but they are still in the fight to avoid relegation after winning three of their previous five matches.

Each of those three victories have taken place at Home Park, including a 3-1 win in Monday's clash against playoff hopefuls Coventry City.

Mustapha Bundu netted a brace alongside a Ryan Hardie effort to clinch a precious victory to keep the Pilgrims within three points of safety with two games left to play against Preston and Leeds United.

Miron Muslic's side will try to take their survival fight to the last day of the season, but they will be relegated this weekend if Derby or Luton Town better their result in their respective fixtures against Hull City and Coventry.

Plymouth certainly face a tough task to take maximum points off Preston, given the fact that they have the division's worst away record after winning just one of their 22 Championship road trips this season (D6, L15).

If they are to claim their second away league win on Saturday, the Pilgrims will have to beat Preston in a league game at Deepdale for the first time since recording a narrow 1-0 victory in November 1997.

Team News

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Preston will be unable to call upon midfielder Mads Frokjaer-Jensen, who was forced off with an injury in Monday's defeat to Hull.

The hosts are also expected to be without Freddie Woodman, Jack Whatmough, Ali McCann and Brad Potts, while it is unclear whether Will Keane will be ready for the weekend.

Ryan Ledson and Sam Greenwood are hoping to prove their fitness in time after returning to training ahead of Saturday's home clash.

As for the visitors, they remain without long-term injury absentee Brendan Galloway, but they are set to welcome three players back for the trip to Deepdale.

Jordan Houghton and Maksym Talovierov are available following their respective injury issues, while captain Joe Edwards is set to return to the squad after serving a one-match ban.

Having scored 19 league goals between them, Hardie and Bundu will continue to offer Plymouth's main attacking threats in the penultimate game of the season.

Preston North End possible starting lineup:
Cornell; Storey, Lindsay, Gibson; Kesler-Hayden, Greenwood, Whiteman, Thordarson, Brady; Osmajic, Riis

Plymouth Argyle possible starting lineup:
Hazard; Palsson, Katic, Pleguezuelo; Szucs, Randell, Gyabi, Mumba; Hardie, Bundu; Tijani

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We say: Preston North End 1-1 Plymouth Argyle

Plymouth will be desperate to boost their survival hopes by claiming their second away win of the Championship season, but we think that they may be held to a draw in Saturday's contest, considering that Preston have drawn 12 of their 22 home league games this term.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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