Build-up
It's been said before, and no doubt it'll be said again but football is a funny old game.
At 7.45pm on January 3rd as Town kicked off against Wrexham they lay in 21st place in League Two - as they kick off against Mansfield tonight they will be playing for the chance to jump to 9th!
The division has been turned upside down in the last few weeks and pleasingly amongst the movers and shakers are Chester City who have lost 6 in a row and plummeted to 17th - who needs Ryan now?
This game tonight is, of course, a rearranged fixture from December when Stags goalkeeping coach Peter Wilson sadly passed away at the RSH after suffering a heart attack on the Gay Meadow pitch.
Town will be looking revenge following the 4-0 thumping handed out by Mansfield at Field Mill back in October and on current form a victory isn't out of the question.
Mansfield currently lie 4th bottom, 5 points ahead of Torquay in 22nd and 6 points clear of Rushden in 23rd and have won just 1 of their last 7 games including a narrow defeat to Newcastle at St. James Park in the FA Cup.
Shrewsbury
The only new injury worry for Town is Kelvin Langmead who picked up a hip injury as he was dragged to the floor for Town's match-winning penalty at the weekend.
The ex-Preston youngster hasn't trained since but should be fit enough to take his place on the bench and he surely can't be too far away from a start after recent impressive performances.
One player who won't be in the squad is Ben Smith who ended his 18-month stint at Town this week opting for a move to the south coast and Weymouth as the 27 year old looks to resurrect his career.
Dave Walton again misses out but could be back in the next fortnight to challenge Stu Whitehead for his first team place.
Predicted Team
Hart, Herd, Whitehead, Hope, Sharp, Edwards, Sorvel, Tolley, Ashton, McMenamin, Hurst.
Subs: Brush, Cowan, Denny, Stallard, Langmead.
Mansfield
Stag's top-scorer is Richie Barker with 10 goals in 22 appearances and is likely to be partnered by new signing from Sheffield Wednesday Danny Reet.
Simon Brown, Callum Lloyd and Chris Beardsley are all out injured so manager Peter Shirtliff must again juggle his small squad.
Predicted Score
Shrewsbury 3-0 Mansfield
A convincing win for Town as they string together their 4th win in a row to push them up to 9th place, one point away from the playoffs.