Southend United and Bury have enjoyed good starts to the Sky Bet League 1 season, and the two promoted clubs now go head-to-head for the first time this campaign.
After 20 games, Southend sit ninth in the table just three points outside of the Play-Offs, and currently have a game-in-hand on Peterborough United and Wigan Athletic, who currently occupy the final two spots.Bury are another side looking to get into those coveted places, and they are two points and two places better off than the Shrimpers ahead of Friday night's match at Roots Hall - although they have also played an extra game.
Now, the pair meet for the first time since their promotion from Sky Bet League 2 last term and, based on recent results, this could prove to be a tight affair.
Out of the last 12 meetings, neither side has scored more than once, a record that stretches back to 2003/04. Another statistic that plays into Southend's favour is the fact that they have only lost once to the Shakers in that same period – a 1-0 defeat in 2010 – but the last four in Essex have seen the spoils shared.
Southend were on a strong run when these two met back in April in the race to come up to Sky Bet League 1, and they are this time around – Phil Brown hasn't seen his side lose since mid-October. Bury are in mixed form with three wins and three losses from their last six, but both Brown and opposite number David Flitcroft will no doubt be delighted with the progress of their clubs in the first half of the campaign.
Will either side find their shooting boots in the latest head-to-head? Find out by following Friday night's match on our live Twitter feed, via @SkyBetLeague1.