FOREST Green travel to third place Mansfield Town as they aim to close in on the automatic promotion places.

The two sides met just 25 days ago but will come toe to toe on Saturday in what's set to be a crucial game for both teams in the race for promotion.

Here is everything you need to know ahead of the match.

Opponent: Mansfield Town

Venue: One Call Stadium Kick-Off: 3pm

TEAM NEWS

Dayle Grubb and James Montgomery are both back fit while Liam Shephard, who missed the game against Yeovil last weekend, is 'touch and go' for Saturday's game.

As for Mansfield, Danny Rose will be unavailable after suffering a facial injury.

Hayden White, Craig Davies, Bobby Olejnik and Jordan Graham are long term absentees who are unlikely to feature until next season.

OPPOSITION

Mansfield are aiming for automatic promotion this season and showed their credentials during a 1-1 draw at the New Lawn back in January.

They are the draw specialists of League Two with 13, one more than Forest Green, which has dented their title hopes.

They have lost just five games all season though and automatic promotion looks a real possibility for David Flitcroft's side.

Neil Bishop, Craig Davies and Otis Khan joined in the summer before another splurge in January when the likes of Nicky Ajose and Jorge Grant arrived at the One Call Stadium.

They are similar to Forest Green as they like to play football and they've proved to be one of the toughest teams to beat in the league.

FORM GUIDE

Rovers got back on track with a win against Yeovil at weekend after they lost two in a row against Notts County and Swindon Town.

Away is where they've shone though as they've won four of their last seven on the road.

Mansfield have had a little wobble. They've suffered defeats in their last two games and have won just four of their last nine.

They are strong at home though. They've been beaten just once in their last 12 home games.

PREVIOUS MEETING

Forest Green 1-1 Mansfield - Tuesday, January 29 2019

A Pulsating night at the New Lawn showed why both teams are pushing for promotion.

Mansfield went ahead through Jorge Grant in the first half before Reuben Reid came off the bench to earn Rovers a point.

PREDICTED LINE-UP

(4-2-3-1): Ward (GK), Winchester, Rawson, Gunning, Mills, Digby, Collins, Williams, Brown, Mondal, Doidge.

ODDS

Mansfield: 13/10

Draw: 9/4

Forest Green: 2/1

*odds by SkyBet

SNJ VERDICT

It's set to be a huge seven days for Forest Green with Mansfield and Lincoln both coming up.

The results in both games could play a huge part in deciding whether Forest Green are automatic promotion contenders or fighting for the play-offs.

Mansfield and Forest Green entertained in their 1-1 draw at the New Lawn last month.

A draw was a fair result and there seems to be a mutual respect between the two clubs who both like to get it down and play.

Mansfield have plenty of exciting players going forward.

Janauary recruits Ajose and Grant are dangerous at this level while they also possess the likes of CJ Hamilton and Tyler Walker.

There's plenty of experienced heads in their lineup as well so they have all the makings of a promotion winning side.

A draw wouldn't be a bad result at all. It's important to consistently pick up points.

FGR's last away trip saw them lose 2-0 to Swindon Town, their heaviest defeat of the season so far so they'll be keen to re-discover the form that has been evident on the road all season.

PREDICTION

Mansfield 2-2 Forest Green