Bristol Rovers endured a Boxing Day to forget at MK Dons, and Paul Tisdale will hope several key players who were absent a week ago are given a clean bill of health to face Blackpool on Saturday.
Rovers kick off the new year by hosting the Tangerines at the Mem, and although the Gas have games in hand on most clubs in the division they are precariously positioned in the bottom four on goal difference.
For Tisdale, the ideal tonic will be three points against Neil Critchley's side to start 2021 on the front foot, and the Gas boss will hope to call on the likes of Zain Westbrooke, Josh Grant and Erhun Oztumer.
The trio missed the trip to Buckinghamshire due to a mix of injury and illness, and their return to the side would be a timely boost for the manager.
Here is the expected Rovers team to play Blackpool...
Defence
Anssi Jaakkola is still recovering from his Achilles injury, meaning Jordi van Stappershoef will continue in goal for the Gas. Liam Armstrong will provide cover from the bench.
The back four is unlikely to be changed, with Alfie Kilgour and Jack Baldwin starting in the centre, with skipper Max Ehmer and Luke Leahy on the right and left respectively.
Ali Koiki, Mark Little and Cian Harries are likely to make the bench. David Tutonda and Michael Kelly are other options in Tisdale's squad.
Midfield
Ed Upson has been an ever-present for Tisdale and he is expected to continue in his role at the base of the diamond.
Westbrooke (COVID) and Grant (hamstring) are back in contention after missing the trip to Stadium MK, and they should be given the number eight roles either side of Upson.
Oztumer, too, is likely to immediately return to the starting XI as the number 10 at the point of the diamond.
Luke McCormick, Cameron Hargeaves, Josh Barrett, Ben Liddle and Alex Rodman are options for the bench.
Attack
Tisdale deployed a front three on Boxing Day, with Brandon Hanlan as the sole striker, but the number nine was isolated. He has been at his best with Sam Nicholson playing alongside him, and Tisdale could well revert to that strategy against Blackpool.
That would leave Jonah Ayunga and Zain Walker as attacking options for the bench, with James Daly still ruled out with an ankle complaint.
Rovers (4-3-1-2): van Stappershoef; Ehmer (c), Kilgour, Baldwin, Leahy; Upson, Grant, Westbrooke; Oztumer; Hanlan, Nicholson.
