FOREST Green will be aiming to bounce back from their defeat to Mansfield Town when they take on league leaders Lincoln City on Saturday.

The clubs have grown to dislike each other over recent seasons after some intense affairs.

It promises to be an exciting game at the New Lawn as Rovers will aim to keep their hopes of automatic promotion alive.

Here is everything you need to know ahead the game.

Opponent: Lincoln City

Venue: The New Lawn

Kick-Off: 3pm

TEAM NEWS

Dayle Grubb and James Montgomery are back fit and played in a Central League game.

Liam Shephard is expected to return to the squad after his recent injury.

As for Lincoln, Harry Anderson will be available after serving a three match ban.

Lee Frecklington missed the 1-1 draw with Exeter City with a hamstring injury and is not expected to feature at the New Lawn.

OPPOSITION

Lincoln City are probably Forest Green's biggest rivals behind Cheltenham Town.

The Imps pipped Rovers to the National League title in 2017 and the animosity still exists between the two clubs.

Both clubs have gone on similar journeys since reaching the EFL and are both hoping to be playing in League One next season.

Lincoln look like they will be. They've been top of the pile pretty much all season.

They've lost just four in 34 league games this season.

FORM GUIDE

Rovers are not in great form having lost three of their last four matches.

At home, Rovers have won two of their last five but lost just two in seven so there has been improvement at the New Lawn.

Lincoln are unbeaten in 11 however they've won only four of those. They are having a similar spell to what Forest Green had a the start of the season where they're drawing a lot of games.

It's one defeat in 18 games though which is an impressive record.

Three of their four defeats have come on the road

PREVIOUS MEETING

Lincoln 2-1 Forest Green - November 3, 2018.

Lincoln took an early lead through John Akinde after a mix up between Gavin Gunning and Robert Sanchez but Reece Brown equalised almost immediately and Rovers played brilliantly from then on.

It was the Imps though who grabbed the winner when substitute Kellan Gordon netted on 72 minutes.

PREDICTED LINE-UP

(5-3-2) Ward, Winchester, Gunning, Rawson, McGinley, Mills, Collins, Digby, Brown, Williams, Doidge.

ODDS

Forest Green: 7/5 Draw: 21/10

Lincoln: 15/8

SNJ Verdict

These two teams don't like each other.

As much as both managers are trying to play down the rivalry, there is no love lost between the two clubs.

It proved to be another feisty one back in November when the Imps ran out 2-1 winners, despite a brilliant first half performance from Forest Green.

The defeat was a bit of a kick in the teeth and that will surely be in the back of the players minds come Saturday.

Lincoln's record against Forest Green is impressive. They won all three EFL meetings since both teams were promoted in 2017.

Rovers are due a result against Lincoln.

Having lost three of their last four and being just a point clear of eighth, Rovers do need a result t retain their play-off place ahead of a busy March.

PREDICTION

Rovers 1-1 Lincoln