Forest Green Rovers take on third place Newport County at the New Lawn on Saturday.

Rovers will be hoping to stretch their unbeaten start to 12 games against Mike Flynn's high flyers.

A win could see Forest Green move to within a point of the automatic promotion places.

Here is all you need to know ahead of the game.

TEAM NEWS

Farrend Rawson picked up a knock against Cambridge and had to be forced off but Mark Cooper says he is back in contention for Saturday.

Cooper confirmed everybody else is fit.

As for Newport, they will be without the ineligible Charlie Cooper (son of Mark), who is on loan from Rovers.

Robbie Willmott is likely to return in his place after serving his suspension.

Matty Dolan and Andrew Crofts are both 'possibilities' and could return from their respective lay-offs.

FORM GUIDE

Give or take 45 minutes, Forest Green have gone a quarter of the season unbeaten. They haven't lost a game in 90 minutes in any of their 14 games in all competitions.

Newport have lost just one of their last 11 games - which was a 6-0 home defeat against Yeovil Town last month.

Despite being third, they have a negative goal difference. They've scored 17 and conceded 18.

PREVIOUS MEETING

The two teams last met back in March at Rodney Parade and it was a game to remember as they played out a 3-3 draw.

Gavin Gunning and Lee Collins netted for Rovers.

In their last meeting at the New Lawn, Rovers lost 4-0 back in October.

MANAGERS VIEW

Mark Cooper:

"Ideally we want back to back wins. Playing a team very much in form so it's going to be a tough ask.

"There's another team on the pitch too. The hardest thing to do is win a game of football. We've been close on so many occasions but let's hope we can do it on Saturday. If you are going to do well you do have to show those battling qualities.

"I watched a lot of their games, they're an aggressive team. Every time I look they seem to be 2-0 down and then all of a sudden they're 4-2 up."

"They're scoring a lot despite conceding. We have to make sure that we're good defensively and if we're good attacking wise we should win but it rarely works that way.

"Newport are relentless, they never stop - like a high speed train so we need to stand up to that."

Michael Flynn:

"He’ll (Charlie Cooper) miss out and it’s a shame because I thought in the second half on Tuesday he looked a lot better than he had been doing.

"We’re a small squad and we’re going to pick up injuries and suspensions so everyone will get a chance.

"With Cooper out we’d be really struggling on Saturday if Robbie wasn’t back."

On Keanu Marsh-Brown: “I’m not one for sentiment,” said Flynn. “I’ll pick the team that I think can do a job on the day and if that means Keanu’s in it he’ll be in it. If not then he’s got to work hard to get in.

"The most important thing is getting the three points, not for Keanu to feel good against his old club."

SNJ Verdict

This has all the makings of a thrilling game. Newport score a lot of goals but they also concede a lot.

Rovers try to play on the front foot and will want to have a lot of possession at home.

Cooper's side haven't conceded a goal from open at home so far this season so if they can continue that solid form at the back, then that should give them the foundations to go down the other end and attack the Exiles.

With two wins in their last three games, Rovers will be confident and the game presents an opportunity to go within touching distance of the automatic promotion places so they'll be fired up.

PREDICTION

Paul Joannou: Rovers 2-1 Newport

Ash Loveridge: Rovers 1-0 Newport