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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
Sport
Sam Frost

Expected Bristol Rovers team to play Swindon Town with Oztumer and Hare pushing for selection

Bristol Rovers face the biggest game of their season on Tuesday night, with relegation rivals Swindon Town visiting the Mem.

The Gas sit above the League One relegation zone on goal difference alone with 10 games remaining, with the pressure growing on Joey Barton's side growing and time running out.

While defeat to the Robins would not ultimately determine what league Rovers are playing in next season, Tuesday's game has all the makings of a defining game in Rovers' season.

Victory would provide Rovers with a springboard towards safety and strike a blow to an immediate rival, while defeat would be a damaging blow to a Gas side that has lost two on the bounce. A draw does neither side many favours.

Here is the expected Rovers team for tonight's game...

Defence

Jordi van Stappershoef played in goal on Saturday, but Joe Day has been Barton's preferred choice and the Cardiff City loanee is likely to return after suspension. With Anssi Jaakkola still being held back by the advice of medical experts, van Stappershoef will displace 17-year-old Jed Ward on the bench.

The chances of George Williams ever being seen at wing-back again for Rovers are remote. He is far more comfortable in the back three and he is likely to start as the right centre-half.

Alfie Kilgour and Jack Baldwin will be the other centre-backs, with Max Ehmer seemingly out of the picture following the scrutiny he received from his manager on Monday. Cian Harries is likely to miss out again with injury.

Luke Leahy, who has been elevated to full-time captain by Barton, will play at left wing-back, with Josh Hare set to play on the opposite side after a decent appearance off the bench on Saturday.

Mark Little, David Tutonda and Ali Koiki could be named among the substitutes.

Midfield

Some players' reputations are enhanced by not playing and that is the case for Josh Grant, who has been missed in midfield for the Gas. Since he limped off at Hull City, the Gas have rarely had the same levels of control in games.

The former Chelsea prospect was due to train on Monday and may be involved in the matchday squad, but a start seems unlikely after a couple of weeks out with a foot injury.

Therefore, Ed Upson and Luke McCormick are likely to keep their spots in midfield.

Sam Nicholson's continued absence is a blow for Barton, so Zain Westbrooke will continue to play in an advanced role behind the strikers.

Erhun Oztumer is pushing for a place in the XI, but it appears more likely he will start from the bench and serve as an ace up the sleeve should Barton need some magic to break the game open.

While Abu Ogogo remains sidelined with a hamstring injury, Josh Barrett has been back in training and Barton hinted that the creative midfielder could be in the squad tonight.

Cameron Hargreaves and Ben Liddle could make the bench.

Attack

With Nicholson ruled out, Barton is likely to persevere with the attacking duo of Brandon Hanlan and Jonah Ayunga.

That partnership has not struck up much chemistry yet, but they both have the potential to do damage and the time has certainly come for Rovers' strikers to lead from the front.

James Daly looked bright in a substitute's role on Saturday and he will likely see action from the bench again, with Zain Walker also set to be included in the squad.

Rovers (3-4-1-2): Day; Williams, Kilgour, Baldwin; Hare, Upson, McCormick, Leahy (c); Westbrooke; Hanlan, Ayunga.

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