League 2 
Rodney Parade prepares to host a clash of contrasting aspirations as Newport County takes on Mansfield Town this weekend.
While they may not share a long history, the encounter promises a compelling narrative as the 10th-placed Exiles face the League Two leaders.
Their head-to-head record remains relatively even, with Newport claiming three victories compared to Mansfield's two in their seven meetings since 2017.
The most recent encounter saw honours shared in a 1-1 draw last season, highlighting the competitive nature of their clashes.
Newport County, under manager Graham Coughlan, have impressed with their resilience and tactical flexibility. Despite sitting outside the automatic promotion spots, they remain well within contention and will be eager to capitalise on their home advantage.
In their last league outing, Newport recorded a convincing 4-1 win over Harrogate. The Exiles dominated from the outset, with Will Evans converting a penalty in the first half to give them the lead.
Offrande Zanzala doubled their advantage just before the break, before adding another goal early in the second half. Substitute Seb Palmer-Houlden sealed the win with a late strike, while Harrogate grabbed a consolation goal through George Thomson.
Mansfield Town, led by manager Nigel Clough, are the current frontrunners in the League Two race. Their attacking prowess, spearheaded by the prolific Jordan Bowler, has been a key factor in their success. However, they cannot afford complacency against a determined Newport side.
The Stags recorded a 5-1 victory over Salford when they were last in action. The Stags took control of the match early on, with Will Swan heading home the opening goal in the 18th minute. Junior Luamba equalised for Salford shortly before halftime, but Baily Cargill restored Mansfield's lead just before the break from a corner.
The second half was all about Mansfield, with Stephen Quinn, Lucas Akins, and Hiram Boateng adding further goals to secure a comprehensive victory.
This match promises to be a test of both teams' strengths. Newport will need to utilise their home support and channel their unwavering spirit into a cohesive performance. Mansfield, on the other hand, must maintain their attacking threat and stay focused on extending their lead at the top of the table.
Unsurprisingly, considering the respective form of these sides heading into this weekend, it is Mansfield who are heavily favoured at the bookies and are currently priced @ 8/11, whilst a home win for Newport is priced @ 10/3 and a draw is @ 11/4.
We are backing Will Swan to score the first goal in the game because he has proven to be in impressive goal scoring form in recent weeks. Swan has scored three goals in his last three league outings and we believe that he may get his name on the scoresheet once more this weekend.