On Tuesday evening Walsall Football Club will play host to Preston North End in the Second Leg of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy Northern Area Final. Here are the latest head to head statistics, referee information and more.
WALSALL LATEST...
Dean Smith's Saddlers head into the game on the back of a 2-0 League victory over Colchester United.
Walsall have won just two of their last five competitive games (L:3), a statistic that stretches back to four in ten (L:3, D:3).
Walsall have won just two of their last five competitive games (L:3), a statistic that stretches back to four in ten (L:3, D:3).
Smith has no major injury concerns heading into the game; defender James O'Connor will be back in contention after receiving staples on a head wound against Colchester United, the summer signing will wear a head guard if selected.
Meanwhile midfielder Sam Mantom (knee) is back in a brace and will be out for the foreseeable future.
Meanwhile midfielder Sam Mantom (knee) is back in a brace and will be out for the foreseeable future.
THE OPPOSITION...
Simon Grayson's Preston North End arrive at the game on the back of a one-all FA Cup Fourth Round draw with fellow Sky Bet League 1 side, Sheffield United.
The Lilywhites have a few injury concerns heading into the clash; striker Jermaine Beckford hopes to shake off the effects of an ear infection in time to return to contention. He missed Saturday's 1-1 FA Cup draw.
Thorsten Stuckmann is expected to resume in goal as former Walsall loanee Sam Johnstone is not eligible for the tie, whilst midfielder Kyel Reid, recently nursing a knee injury, hopes to be fit after returning to the starting line-up at the weekend.
Forwards Andy Little (groin), Jordan Hugill (knee) and Joe Garner (shin) all remain sidelined.
PNE will be unable to offer a debut to midfielder Daniel Johnson, who joined the club from Aston Villa late last week, as he has already appeared in the tournament whilst on loan with Oldham Athletic earlier this season.
The Lilywhites have a few injury concerns heading into the clash; striker Jermaine Beckford hopes to shake off the effects of an ear infection in time to return to contention. He missed Saturday's 1-1 FA Cup draw.
Thorsten Stuckmann is expected to resume in goal as former Walsall loanee Sam Johnstone is not eligible for the tie, whilst midfielder Kyel Reid, recently nursing a knee injury, hopes to be fit after returning to the starting line-up at the weekend.
Forwards Andy Little (groin), Jordan Hugill (knee) and Joe Garner (shin) all remain sidelined.
PNE will be unable to offer a debut to midfielder Daniel Johnson, who joined the club from Aston Villa late last week, as he has already appeared in the tournament whilst on loan with Oldham Athletic earlier this season.
HEAD TO HEAD...
In terms of head to head, of the fifty-eight games played, it's Walsall that hold the slight advantage, with twenty-six wins to North End's twenty-two. There have also been ten draws during the fixture's history.
Their first meeting took place on Saturday, 9th September 1961, in the old Division Two. The Saddlers won the match by three goals to two at Deepdale.
Obviously their most recent encounter took place during the First Leg of the Northern Area Final at Deepdale, on Wednesday 7th January 2015, Walsall won the match by two goals to nil, with two late goals from Anthony Forde and Tom Bradshaw.
During the match North End's Neil Kilkenny and Walsall's James O'Connor were booked by referee Simon Hooper.
During the match North End's Neil Kilkenny and Walsall's James O'Connor were booked by referee Simon Hooper.
MATCH OFFICIALS...
The referee for this game is scheduled to be 54-year-old Nigel Miller, who is based in County Durham.
Referee Miller has taken charge of nineteen games in various competitions this season, where he has issued forty-six yellow, and no red cards. He has also awarded six penalties during the current campaign.
Mr Miller's most recent Walsall match was last season's Sky Bet League 1 home defeat to Bristol City, which took place on Saturday, 12th April 2014.
The game, which ended 1-0 to the visitors, kicked off at 3:07pm as the Football League commemorated the Hillsborough Disaster, which the took place during the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest on 15 April 1989, and was abandoned six minutes after kick-off, at 3:06pm
Mr. Darren Blunden and Mr. Mark Dwyer are scheduled to assist the referee, whilst Mr. David Webb will be Fourth Official.