This fixture is one of those fun match-ups where both sides will come into the game believing they should earn all three points, which I believe will lead to an open encounter.

Both sides come into this game in good form. I’ve backed against Aldershot Town recently but their 3-0 victory at Maidstone United, in response to a 2-2 draw at Bromley and 2-1 win at Solihull Moors, was mightily impressive. Ross McNeilly and his coaching staff are showing a tactical nous that is giving them a leg up in games. As for Oldham Athletic, they have won three of their last five games – and the two they didn’t win were against Notts County. Reverting to a 3-4-1-2 shape has helped, as has the return of Mike Fondop-Talum and signing of midfielder Mark Shelton, a former promotion winner.

As noted above, both teams will fancy their chances in this one. There is usually a side that scores in games involving these two, Aldershot seeing one team score at least two goals in 24 of their 28 league matches this season while Oldham have had the same in 19 of their 25 matches. The Shots have seen over 2.5 goals scored in six of their last seven matches and 11 of their last 16 – the other five finished 2-0. The Latics have seen over 2.5 goals scored in six of their last seven matches, the outlier being the 2-0 win over York City in midweek.

I’ve been fancying Solihull Moors to end their poor form soon. After a dismal run during which an ageing spine appeared to be on its way out, they made a couple of changes, particularly in midfield, that have breathed some life back into their performances, unfortunate in defeat against Barnet and Aldershot Town.

Last season, the Moors were so good going forward because their young stars had a foil to work off in attack. This season, Danny Newton, Adam Rooney, and Kyle Hudlin haven’t been replaced, until now. Mark Beck has just joined the club from Darlington, where he was National League North top goalscorer.

While the Moors have been excellent recently between both boxes, they have lacked a ruthlessness in both boxes. Beck will not only provide goals but will also give the side a foil to work off in attack and improve their set-piece defending. A pivotal signing and a huge piece to the new Solihull Moors puzzle.

And this might just be the perfect game to get back on track. Dorking Wanderers are probably the first pick you’d make in selecting a side to play when your attack needs a confidence boost. Dorking Wanderers have conceded 64 goals in 27 league matches (highest per game) with Marc White unable to field a consistent back three or four due to injury, poor form or simply managing bodies back into the fold – they have made at least one change to their backline in 13 of their last 15 matches.

Luke Moore is being managed back to fitness in front of them and Josh Taylor remains absent too. Dorking Wanderers have pulled off a couple of shocks this season but have lost seven of their last 12 and the only point picked up against a top 14 side was at home against Eastleigh (read on to find out why that isn’t that impressive).

Much of this selection is based on the visitors and their chronic issues on the road.

Eastleigh’s away record reads one win, three draws and nine defeats. That sole victory came in their second away trip of the season, so they are without a win away from home in 11 now. The draws came against Gateshead, Aldershot Town (pre-managerial change) and Dorking Wanderers.

They have scored more than one goal away from home just once. They have lost all seven matches away from home against sides in the top 13. And though JJ McKiernan has returned from Watford, they have lost Brennan Camp and Ryan Hill for the long-term. They don’t come into this game in the best shape.

Southend United have only won six of their 13 home matches but they are in a good place right now. For starters, despite winning one of their last six, they have been very strong in terms of performance and chance creation, winning the xG battle in every game, validated by a 3-0 spanking of Solihull Moors in their last league game and a 2-1 win over National League North title contenders Darlington in the FA Trophy.

Harry Cardwell has finally put a run of games together and scored a brace in that FA Trophy game while Shaun Hobson, Jake Hyde and Rhys Murphy also returned. They have proven time and again that they can defy the off-field issues and I’m backing them to do that again here.

Two sides much further apart in the league table than anticipated face off this weekend with the visitors hoping for revenge after seeing a dominant display at home end in a 1-0 loss.

Wealdstone have been the surprise package of the season, currently sitting in ninth place having won ten of their 25 league matches. Stuart Maynard’s side have responded positively after a tough run earlier in the season, making a couple of key additions to get back on track as well as a change of shape. Gateshead, meanwhile, come into this game in good shape having finally managed to get the majority of their first-choice XI fit after lengthy spells out.

The Stones have seen both teams scored in five of their last seven league matches and even lost out 2-1 in the FA Trophy against Chelmsford City. The two other results in that run were a 2-0 loss against Barnet and a 0-0 draw with Maidenhead United during which a spell must have been put on goals at both ends. They have also seen both sides scored in five of their last six home matches, the outlier being a 0-0 draw with Wrexham in which the flow of the game was different in light of the opposition. Both teams have scored in 64% of their league matches – the fifth highest total in the division.

Second in that chart is Gateshead, who have seen both sides score in 73% of their league matches. Their return to some normality in terms of selection has seen them win 3-0, draw 2-2 and 1-1 and really take the game to Wrexham in a 3-0 loss whereby the score did not reflect the game and the chances created.