Port Vale will welcome the Championship-chasing Wycombe Wanderers to Vale Park this weekend in League One with the home side in 13th now after a tough run of form to start 2023 just as Gareth Ainsworth's men remain well in with a playoff shout.
It's the first season back in League One for five seasons for Vale and it has been quite topsy-turvy. A tough start spread fear of a relegation battle across Vale Park, but they now sit 11 points ahead of Burton Albion in 22nd. What's more, with 10 wins on the board still and a game in hand to play over 12th-placed Bristol Rovers, Vale head into this game knowing they have a mathematical chance to get into the top half of the table with a few more wins.
The playoffs are still not too far away for Darrell Clarke's side either, as they sit only a handful of points behind Barnsley in sixth and even sit behind Wycombe in eighth by just five points. A win here would be the biggest one of the season for Clarke's men and therefore bring a lot of hope in terms of a promotion shout.
As for Wycombe, they have been dealt a hefty blow in terms of promotion over the past month, losing to Plymouth Argyle and Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 in each game. A 3-0 win over Peterborough United and a recent win over Oxford United has meant a place in eight still, however, with the club just two points behind Barnsley before they meet with Oxford themselves on Wednesday.