Friday could see the first relegation of the League One season when bottom club Shrewsbury Town welcome Wigan Athletic to New Meadow.
The Shrews will be hoping to end their 13-game winless run, while the Latics will be looking to make it four without defeat this week.
Match preview
© Imago
Shrewsbury have been all but officially demoted after a difficult season that has seen the club led by three different managers, the latest of which is Michael Appleton, who will see out the remainder of the campaign following Gareth Ainsworth's shock departure to take over fourth-tier Gillingham back in March.
Last time out, the Shrews avoided losing for just the third time since February when they came from behind to draw 1-1 on the road to Lincoln City thanks to Aaron Pierre's deflected first-half strike.
That stalemate meant that Appleton's men survived at least until this week, but considering that they are bottom of the table and 12 points from safety with only four games to play, their point against the Imps likely just delayed the inevitable.
Additionally, having failed to win any of their last seven at New Meadow, Friday's hosts will need to win while hoping that both 20th-placed Burton Albion and 21st-placed Bristol Rovers lose in order to prevent being relegated this week.
Should Shrewsbury earn what would be their first victory in over two months, then they could stave off demotion for one more week, but even three points may not be enough for Appleton's side to fight on.
© Imago
Meanwhile, Ryan Lowe's Wigan have lost just one of their last four ahead of this week's trip to Shrewsbury, though it is notable that they have not won any of their last six going back to early March.
Most recently, the Latics made it three unbeaten with a commendable 0-0 draw against promotion-chasing Wrexham at the Brick Community stadium, and the manager will be delighted that his team denied the Red Dragons even one shot on target.
The point they took on Saturday lifted Lowe's side up to 17th in the table, where their 47 points has them a solid five above the Gas in the drop zone with four fixtures to play.
That being said, four games is enough for things to change at the lower reaches of the third tier, though having lost just one of their last six on the road, Friday's visitors will be confident of adding to their tally against the struggling Shrews.
Three points for Wigan could see them leapfrog Peterborough United and climb up to 16th, but defeat may draw them into a relegation fight, leaving the Latics two points from relegation in a worst-case scenario.
Team News
© Imago
Shrewsbury strikers George Lloyd and John Marquis will be hoping to score in order to keep their club in League One for another matchday, even if relegation seems inevitable.
Supporting the pair will be wing-backs Luca Hoole and George Nurse, as well as a midfield trio of Taylor Perry, Alex Gilliead and Dominic Gape.
As for Wigan, centre-backs Jason Kerr and Will Aimson will be looking to extend their side's unbeaten run to four matches with another solid defensive performance after stifling Wrexham last time out.
In attack, Jensen Weir should start just behind strikers Dale Taylor and Maleace Asamoah, with James Carragher and Luke Robinson providing width on the overlap from full-back.
Shrewsbury Town possible starting lineup:
Blackman; M Feeney, J Feeney, Pierre; Hoole, Perry, Gilliead, Gape, Nurse; Lloyd, Marquis
Wigan Athletic possible starting lineup:
Tickle; Carragher, Kerr, Aimson, Robinson; Dale, Adeeko, Mellish; Weir; Taylor, Asamoah
We say: Shrewsbury Town 1-1 Wigan Athletic
Shrewsbury are on the verge of relegation, and given that they have lost nine of their last 12 matches, they are likely to have their demotion confirmed on Friday.
Additionally, Wigan may have gone over a month without victory, but they have proven difficult to beat, so expect the Latics to avoid defeat at the very least.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
