Blackpool play host to Derby County on Saturday afternoon aware that claiming another victory at Bloomfield Road could take them into the top half of the Championship standings.
Meanwhile, the already-relegated Rams head into this contest playing for just pride and looking to avoid finishing in bottom position of the table.
Whatever happens during the final two matches of the season, Blackpool will be delighted with their efforts, the pre-season relegation favourites already guaranteed a top-16 position.
Nevertheless, Neil Critchley’s side only sit three points adrift of 10th spot, and that will remain the motivation heading into games with Derby and Peterborough United.
As a result of the scrap higher up the table, recognition for Blackpool’s results has been minimal, but reaching the 60-point mark at this stage is one of the most notable achievements in the EFL this campaign.
Blackpool also look determined to end with a flourish, posting seven points from their last three fixtures with the most recent of their nine goals during that period coming in Tuesday’s 2-0 win at Barnsley.
In Owen Dale and Oliver Casey, the goals came from unlikely sources, and both players will want to make a further impact in their respective positions with next season’s squad in mind.
From Derby’s perspective, their season has the potential to peter out now that an intense fight to retain their Championship status has ended in failure.
Wayne Rooney would have had every expectation that his Rams squad would have continued to perform to their best levesT when Bristol City were the visitors to Pride Park last weekend.
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However, the East Midlands outfit were defeated 3-1 by one of the division’s under-performing sides, highlighting that thoughts may have already turned to 2022-23.
On a human level, that is perfectly understandable, particularly when a takeover is still yet to be made official, but Rooney will demand at least one positive result from the game on Saturday or at home to Cardiff City next weekend to provide some optimism for the future.
