Both aiming to start the new English League One season on a positive note, Burton Albion play host to Mansfield at the Pirelli Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Having found themselves a sizable 11 points adrift of safety at the turn of the year, it would be fair to say that Burton looked destined for the drop last season.
However, Gary Bowyer’s appointment half way through the season proved to be an inspired one, with the former Dundee boss guiding Albion to League One safety.
Bowyer and co will be hoping to carry that momentum into the new season with a view to steering clear of another fight for survival.
As for Mansfield, they maintained their place in League One with a respectable 17th placed finish after being promoted to the third tier 12 months earlier.
Further consolidation will be the name of the game for Nigel Clough and his side as they look to avoid a case of second season syndrome.
How the bookies view it: A close contest on the cards
The pre-match odds indicate that the bookies are struggling to separate the pair, with Burton narrow favourites at 7/5 on Boylesports.
Meanwhile, Mansfield are marginal outsiders at 6/4 with Boylesports while a share of the Pirelli Stadium spoils can be backed at 5/2 with the same firm.
Head to head: Advantage Albion
Burton can draw some confidence from the fact that they have avoided defeat in seven of their overall eight meetings with Mansfield, triumphing on four occasions. Two of the three draws between the duo came last season, making a repeat here well worthy of support at the above-mentioned odds.
Players to watch: Evans to excel?
Having hit 13 goals in English League One last season, Mansfield will look to forward Will Evans for inspiration this weekend. The Welshman heads the anytime goalscorer market here at 2/1 on Boylesports.
Fresh off the back of his move from Eastleigh, Tyreese Shade is a tempting 2/1 on Boylesports to mark his debut with a goal on Saturday. The 25-year-old forward notched 14 goals in the National League last season.
Predicted line-ups
The departure of Rumarn Burrell leaves a huge hole for Burton to fill. The Jamaican international spearheaded Burton's survival surge last season, hitting 11 goals across the second half of the campaign.
Mansfield have no reported injury or suspension issues to contend with ahead of Saturday’s encounter in East Staffordshire.
Burton Albion: Amissah; Moon, Godwin-Malife, Sibbick, Vancooten; Chauke, McΚiernan, Williams; Webster, Tavares, Shade
Mansfield: Mason; Bowery, Blake-Tracy, Cargill; Hewitt, Maris, Lewis, Gardner, Baccus; Evans, Dwyer
Anything else catch the eye?
While it’s not the most eye-catching of prices, backing both teams to score merits consideration at 7/10 on Boylesports.
There were goals at both ends in 15 of Albion’s 23 home games last season, while 14 of Mansfield's away days would have delivered a winning BTTS selection.
It's also worth noting that this bet would have proven profitable in each of the two meetings between the pair last season.
GambleAware