Cambridge United visit AFC Wimbledon for the first time ever on Saturday, aiming to maintain the current unbeaten away record with a good performance in Surrey.
United are currently in sixth place, having taken 15 points from the first nine games, while newly-promoted Wimbledon are ninth with 14 points from eight games.
It's also a meeting of the Blue Square Premier's leading scorers as nine-goal Chris Holroyd faces up to eight-goal Danny Kedwell. The bookies rates the home side as favourites to win at 5/4 and United at 15/8 with our online betting partners bet365, while the draw is 9/4. Click here for all the match odds.
Team News
Martin Ling has missed the last two games with a serious virus but he aims to be back in the dugout tomorrow, and, barring late injuries or illness, there is a fully fit squad to select from again.
Danny Potter stands by to make his 100th league appearance for the club, and in front of him could well be an unchanged team for the sixth successive game. Paul Carden has overseen training this week, assisted from the dugout on Tuesday by Director of Football Jez George, and he believes there is a good chance the same team will start.
"Training has gone well, we've got a full squad to pick from and the team is on a decent run and it should take care of itself unless there are any problems between now and the game," said the United player-assistant manager.
"The lads have been first class and they've trained really well, and everything myself and Greg (Reid, physio) have asked of them they've done professionally and well. But we'd expect nothing less of them because that's the type of lads they are."
He confirmed that Ling had stayed in contact during the week and was fully informed about training and the last two games.
"He's been reading all the reports but first and foremost he's been speaking to me and Jez about all the aspects of how people have played and the team's performance, so we've been keeping him up-to-date about how they're faring in training and who's putting pressure on the lads in the starting eleven.
"Training is always taken seriously and the lads give it their all; they don't take their foot off the gas when the manager isn't around. I wouldn't let them, but we've got a lot of good pros who demand high standards of themselves and each other, so that's a big plus in a situation like this."
Although Carden thinks the squad and team could stay unchanged, he added, "Martin might look at the information we've got on Wimbledon and want to do things a different way. Wimbledon are a physical side but we haven't spoken about our tactical options in details yet, so there could be changes and we'll be discussing that."
With a fully fit squad and an unbeaten run of five games, with only one goal conceded in those games, the likes of Lee Phillips, Mark Beesley and Sam Ives have been pushing for a start but may have to settle for a place on the bench again.
However there is a question mark over Courtney Pitt's future with the club. The transfer-listed winger has only made two appearances from the bench earlier in the season and he has been an unused substitute in recent games.
When asked about Pitt's situation, Carden responded, "Courtney is transfer-listed and up to now there hasn't been much interest. The manager has put a proposal to Courtney, which Courtney hasn't come with back yet, but I'm sure he will soon because he wants to play football.
"Hopefully he wants to play football for us and when the manager comes back I'm sure he'll address the situation. Hopefully it will be sorted in the next week or so."
The Other Side
Blue Square South champions AFC Wimbledon are manager by Conference veteran Terry Brown and they have made a good start to their first season at this level.
A recent run of four wins in five games was ended by a unfortunate 1-0 defeat at home to leaders Oxford, but they returned to the points with a 2-2 draw at Tamworth last weekend and Carden believes they will pose a stern test tomorrow.
"They've just been promoted and they're going well at the moment, they've got a very experienced manager and some good experienced players who know this league, and others who have been successful in the leagues below, and they've also taken a couple from the one above.
"So they're a mixed bunch who seem to have gelled well.
"They started great in the league and the momentum from last season has certainly carried them through, so this will be a big test for us and certainly I'm thinking it will be our toughest away game to date. But we're going there on a bit of a run and full of confidence.
"They will be confident with the start they've had but they'll be quite wary and knowing what we're capable of."
Paul's brother Simon Carden plays for FC United of Manchester and after taking in a pre-season friendly between the two sides he has an idea of what to expect at Kingsmeadow tomorrow.
"It was a game arranged by two teams who were made by the fans and run by the fans and there was a good atmosphere there. You could tell it was a club for the fans and you could see a lot of work has gone in by the members to get the club to where it is today.
"Fans at all clubs want to see their own clubs progress and they're showing it in abundance because they're right behind the team, and they've only got a small capacity but they've got over 2,500 season ticket holders. That shows how much support is behind the team so there should be a good atmosphere because I'm sure we'll take a good few down there ourselves."
Carden concluded, "Their manager knows this league inside out and he's managed good clubs and had decent success at this level. He knows what it takes to be in and around the top five places and they've had he momentum from last season.
"They won a lot of games last season and winning becomes a habit. Obviously that habit has continued into this season but hopefully on Saturday we can break that."
More information
You can read more about AFC Wimbledon in Doug Shulman's 'The Other Side' preview, away travel details and directions are here, and if you fancy a bet on our match or any other event this week follow this link to visit our official betting partners bet365 - the place where your online betting makes money for the U's.
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