Plymouth Argyle host Northampton Town at Home Park in League One on Saturday afternoon. Here is everything you need to know ahead of the match:
Team News
Plymouth will be without midfielder Lewis Macleod who is having knee trouble. Argyle boss Ryan Lowe is hoping the midfielder will be available again sooner rather than later, having been absent for the last three games.
Another midfielder, Panutche Camara, will be back in contention for the Pilgrims having missed their 2-0 win last weekend against Burton Albion.
Plymouth will also be without club captain Gary Sawyer who left Home Park on crutches last weekend and is expected to be out until Christmas time with an ankle injury.
As for Northampton, manager Keith Curle has confirmed Scott Pollock will be out with a groin problem which has kept him out for the duration of the season so far.
Luka Racic and Joseph Mills have minor issues but should be available for selection on Saturday.
Predicted Lineups
Both managers are expected to lineup in their traditional 3-5-2 systems.
Plymouth Argyle: Cooper, Aimson, Canavan, Watts, Moore, Grant, Fornah, Mayor, Cooper, Nouble, Jephcott.
Northampton Town: Arnold, Harriman, Bolger, Horsfall, Mills, Adams, Watson, Sowerby, Hoskins, Ashley-Seal, Rose.
Ones to watch
Experienced Argyle midfielder Danny Mayor will be familiar to Northampton fans as he has faced them more times than any other club in his career. The 29-year-old has played the Cobblers ten times previously and has scored against them four occasions as well as picking up an assist.
So far this season Mayor has one goal and one assist, both of which coming in the Carabao Cup. The Englishman will be hoping to make an impact on the Pilgrims league campaign and get some goal contributions starting with Saturday's game.
Another midfielder to watch out for on Saturday will be 23-year-old Argyle midfielder, Geroge Cooper. Cooper has scored one and assisted twice so far this season for Argyle and will hope to continue his good form against Northampton.
As for Northampton, midfielder Jack Sowerby will be one to watch on Saturday afternoon. Northampton fans will be pleased by the fact Sowerby has never lost to Plymouth in his career. The midfielder has looked promising for Northampton so far this season having signed from Fleetwood Town in the summer and will want to continue to impress the Cobblers fans come Saturday.
In addition to Sowerby, forward Sam Hoskins will be eager to pick up where he left off last season as Northampton's top scorer. Hoskins has already been on the scoresheet this season away from home when he scored in their win over Shrewsbury Town in September. The pacey, versatile forward will want to add to his goals away from home by scoring in a Northampton win on Saturday.
Previous meetings
The two sides have met each other 62 times, the first dating back to a Division Three South match in 1920, where the Cobblers beat Argyle away from home by two goals to nil.
Since 1920, Northampton have got the better of the Pilgrims 27 times, with 11 draws and 24 Plymouth wins.
The sides last met in August 2019 where Northampton came out on top by three goals to one in a League Two encounter.
How to watch
Plymouth Argyle season ticket holders will have received a code to watch the game for free. Details of this can be found here.
Plymouth fans who are not season ticket holders can watch the game live for £10 through iFollow Argyle.
Northampton Town fans can also watch the game live for the same price here.
What the managers have said
Pilgrims manager Ryan Lowe was full of praise for Saturday's visitors and told the Northampton Chronicle and Echo:
"Fair play to them, they were outstanding in the playoffs" said Lowe on tomorrow's visitors. "They came back from 2-0 down to beat Cheltenham in the semifinal and once they reached the final, there was always only one winner for me.
"They did what they do and got promoted along with ourselves. They were climbing the table before the season was finished so fair play, Keith Curle has done a fantastic job.
"They have made some good additions and we are expecting a different type of game but it's one we're relishing and we respect Northampton for what they are and how they go about their business.
"Ultimately, it is about what we do. We have noticed a lot of teams go from back to front early in League One, including ourselves at times because we do mix it up.
"We need to focus on ourselves. We are a footballing team and we'll continue to do that. It is nice to have a different side to us and to be solid and resolute and that's something we will continue to do and improve on the training pitch, but all games are going to be different."
Northampton boss Keith Curle has told the Northampton Chronicle and Echo that his side is still adapting to their surroundings:
"Everyone wants to get points on the board early but we are in a very similar position as we were last season,” he said.
“We have had an influx of new players who are adapting to a new environment and new surroundings and we’re all getting to know each other’s games through the week and on the pitch.
We know where we’re at and we know what we need to improve on but there’s more than enough in the building to do that.”