Notts County welcome Grimsby Town to Meadow Lane for their opening EFL Trophy Group F fixture on Tuesday evening.
County enter the clash searching for form after a stuttering start to life back in League One.
Martin Paterson's men sit just above the relegation zone with only seven points from their first seven league matches and are aiming to respond after back-to-back defeats.
Grimsby arrive unbeaten in seven and full of confidence following a composed 2-0 win over Crawley Town on Saturday.
The third-placed Mariners beat table-toppers Bristol Rovers by the same scoreline earlier this month and boast one of the best defensive records in the EFL.
Neither side progressed from the group stage of last season's EFL Trophy and, with both managers expected to rotate, momentum could be a crucial factor in deciding the winner.
Notts County v Grimsby Town Tips Summary
Best Bet - Over 2.5 Goals @ 8/13
Alternative Bet - Grimsby Draw No Bet @ 6/5
Bet Builder - Both Teams to Score, Grimsby Double Chance & Sonny Finch to Score at Anytime @ 23/4
Notts County v Grimsby Town Prediction
Best Bet: Over 2.5 Goals @ 8/13
If Grimsby boss David Artell rolls out his regular starting XI, there might not be many scoring opportunities for the hosts.
The Mariners have kept consecutive clean sheets against Bristol Rovers and Crawley Town, facing only one shot on target in each of those home fixtures.
However, the Grimsby boss is likely to give some fringe players a chance to impress at Meadow Lane as he prioritises Saturday's League Two clash with Newport County.
That should offer some encouragement to the Magpies' attack after they drew back-to-back blanks against Bradford City and Reading.
However, those results were not wholly unexpected, as the Bantams are currently top of the League One pile with Reading chasing hard just outside the play-off positions.
Notts County have scored and conceded in all six of their other league and cup matches, including a first-round EFL Cup exit on penalties at Burnley, so there should be a good chance that this match features a few goals.
All three of Grimsby's EFL Trophy matches last term cleared the 2.5-goal mark, as did two of Notts County's group stage games, so this one looks ripe for an overs play.
Alternative Bet: Grimsby Draw No Bet @ 6/5
Grimsby arrive in significantly better form than their hosts. Their efficient 2-0 win over Crawley showcased what has made them so difficult to beat, with Artell's men surging into a two-goal lead by the break thanks to their characteristic intensity.
Iwan Morgan's penalty and Kieran Green's header capped a dominant display, while Christy Pym and the back four managed the second half with maturity.
The manner of the Mariners' win allowed Artell to give some of his substitutes extended run-outs, and that should stand them in good stead if they are selected to start on Tuesday.
County, by contrast, have won only one of their eight matches this season and have struggled to convert possession into points. Their expected rotation further reduces their reliability.
Even with changes, Grimsby's structure and momentum give them a strong chance of avoiding defeat here, but it may be worth leaning further into their superior form by taking them Draw No Bet.
Notts County v Grimsby Town Bet Builder
Both Teams to Score
Grimsby Double Chance
Sonny Finch to Score at Anytime
Pays 23/4
Both teams have scored in six of Notts County's first eight games of the campaign and with Grimsby set to change their well-drilled defence, there should be a good chance of seeing the net bulge at both ends.
Grimsby's form and stability make them the likelier winners, but County have drawn five times already this term, so the Double Chance option is favoured for this Bet Builder.
Finally, add Grimsby striker Sonny Finch to score at some point in the 90 minutes. The 21-year-old was denied by two saves late on against Crawley on Saturday and previously bagged 19 goals in 25 appearances for South Shields last season.
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Key Match Stats
Grimsby are seven games unbeaten in League Two
County have won one of eight matches this season
Grimsby have kept two straight clean sheets
All three of Grimsby's away league games have been draws
County have scored three goals in three home matches
Grimsby won 2–0 against Crawley with 11 shots on target
County finished bottom of their EFL Trophy group last season
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
