Draw specialists Torquay will be aiming to make ground on Northampton when the two sides meet at Plainmoor.
Torquay look to turn draws into wins while Cobblers also hope to build on form
Draw specialists Torquay will be aiming to make ground on Northampton when the two sides meet at Plainmoor on Saturday.
The Gulls have drawn six consecutive matches, although one ended in a penalty shoot-out defeat to Southampton in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.
The Cobblers, meanwhile, have struggled since their return to League Two and lie 15th in the table, just seven places above relegation threatened opponents.
However, an unbeaten run of six games, which includes four wins, has given renewed hope to manager Ian Sampson as they look to climb the table.
On-loan Southampton winger Jake Thomson is in line to make his Torquay debut in the clash.
The 20-year-old joined the Gulls on Tuesday on an initial one-month emergency loan deal, with a view to that arrangement being extended and the move then becoming permanent during the January transfer window.
However, manager Paul Buckle may stick with the same starting line-up that impressed in the 0-0 draw at Lincoln last weekend.
Chris Hargreaves will be hoping to retain his place in central midfield against the club where he played between 2000 and 2004 alongside current Northampton manager Ian Sampson.
Forward Marvin Williams is still ruled out by a knee injury, and seems set to leave the club when his short-term contract ends.
Northampton news
Manager Sampson will hand a late fitness test to defender Dean Beckwith ahead of the long trip to Plainmoor.
Beckwith is struggling with a recurrence of a groin injury which sidelined him earlier in the season and he is a doubt to be fit to play at Plainmoor.
Chris McCready or new signing Patrick Kanyuka are on standby to replace him if required.
Elsewhere, midfielder Abdul Osman remains out with a back injury while on-loan Stoke winger Ben Marshall put himself in contention for a recall after coming off the bench to play a key part in the comeback at Morecambe last weekend.
The Cobblers were 2-1 down with 20 minutes remaining but eventually won 4-2 and strikers Steve Guinan and Adebayo Akinfenwa will continue their partnership after they both scored.
Courtney Herbert will be out for another fortnight with his back problem and Liam Davis is back in training after a broken foot but is not yet ready to return.
