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It’s another week, another competition and another derby game for Wigan Athletic.

They upstaged neighbouring Championship side Preston North End at Deepdale in the FA Cup third round last Friday and now return home to face Bolton Wanderers in League One.

Latics boss Ryan Lowe says the cup win against a rival from a division higher is something his side needs to “build on”.

“Momentum and consistency are a big thing in this league,” he told BBC Radio Manchester.

“I thought the lads were excellent against Preston, and they are all champing at the bit to play again on Saturday afternoon because of what it means.

“That is enough for me, the group is a confident group and we have to perform to the levels we performed at on Friday night.”

Image source, Opta/Shutterstock

Big day in League One, this.

In a few hours time Cardiff could hold a nine-point advantage in the race for promotion, should the leaders see-off third-placed Bradford at 12:30 GMT.

We also have an early local derby with more than pride at stake as Wigan host Bolton, trying to pull away from the drop-zone and prevent the Trotters strengthening their grip on a play-off spot.

Later Stockport and Huddersfield will take on struggling Rotherham and Burton respectively while second-placed Lincoln will seek to keep pace at the top as they visit Luton, aiming for the top-six themselves.

Basement-boys Port Vale head to Mansfield while second-bottom Doncaster visit AFC Wimbledon, seeking to close the gap to safety, with Northampton, just above the dotted line, at home to Wycombe.

While a handful of sides still have the distraction, welcome or otherwise, of an FA Cup tie on their calendar, this afternoon feels like the official start of the run-in to the business end of the season for most EFL sides.

By the close of play today the League One promotion race could either be wide open or have the hallmarks of a procession, while the furious fight at the bottom may begin to show a clearer picture too.

It's a similar story in League Two, so we want to know what, if anything, you expect to change across the next three months?

It's never been easier to get in touch and get things off your chest, simply click the shiny gold button on the top left of the page to have your say.

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Chesterfield boss Paul Cook makes two changes from the side which drew 2-2 with Milton Keynes Dons last time out.

Skipper Kyle McFadzean returns to the defence and forward Dickson comes in for Janoi Donacien and Ronan Darcy.

Leaders Bromley make one change from the 2-0 win at Tranmere as Ben Krauhaus comes back in for Will Hondermarck.

Image source, Opta

Image source, Opta

Forward Dylan Jones and defender William Tamen make their first starts for Tranmere after their midweek moves from Norwich and Everton as part of four changes from the 2-0 defeat to Bromley.

Connor Jennings and Ethan Bristow also come in as Patrick Brough, Cameron Norman, Joe Ironside and Kristian Dennis drop out.

Walsall boss Mat Sadler also makes four changes from their most recent league action - defeat to Cambridge on New Year's Day.

Priestley Farquharson, Brandon Comley, and Vincent Harper return, while Alex Pattison makes his first start since his move from Bradford.

Image source, Opta

Image source, Shutterstock

To put it bluntly, League Two leaders Bromley are flying.

A stunning run of seven successive wins, and 11 victories in their past 12 matches, has taken them five points clear of second-placed Swindon and given them a plump eight-point cushion in the automatic promotion places.

So, just 18 months after leaving the National League, is it safe to start dreaming of life in League One?

Chesterfield may have something to say about that as they look to recharge their play-off ambitions after three league matches without a win - and three victories from their past nine.

Both sides have recruited young Premier League talent since their last league outing with Bromley bringing in Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Damola Ajayi on loan, external.

The Spireites, meanwhile, have signed Manchester City forward Will Dickson on a permanent deal.

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Despite sitting third in League Two, there will be plenty of nerves jangling and worry lines developing among Walsall fans.

The turn of the new year was not kind to them last season when a disastrous run saw them lose a sizeable lead at the top of the table and ultimately fail in the play-offs.

The Saddlers have not exactly settled any anxiety by losing their past four games in all competitions, including back-to-back defeats to Cambridge and Oldham and will be desperate to get winning and prove last season was a horrible one-off.

They face an inconsistent Tranmere side who sit 17th and have failed to string successive league wins together all season, losing four of their past six.

Yet despite sitting 17th, Rovers are a not insurmountable eight points off the play-off spots and their tally of 39 goals is bettered only by three sides in League Two. Food for thought.

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There's a chance for sides at both ends of the table to lay down a marker this afternoon.

Bromley have the chance to stretch their advantage to eight points as they head to play-off chasers Chesterfield for one of two lunchtime kick-offs which will also see promotion candidates arrest their wobbles at Tranmere.

Swindon will have to wait until 3pm for their chance to respond with a huge clash at home to fourth-placed Salford. The visitors will go level on points with the Robins in the automatic promotion spots if they win.

At the bottom, there's a big basement clash between two horribly out-of-form sides as second-bottom Harrogate head to Shrewsbury, looking to leapfrog their opponents and ramp up fears of successive relegations for the Shrews.

• Chesterfield v Bromley (12:30 GMT)
• Tranmere v Walsall (12:30 GMT)
• Accrington v MK Dons
• Bristol Rovers v Colchester
• Crawley v Notts County
• Crewe v Barrow
• Fleetwood v Cambridge United
• Gillingham v Newport
• Grimsby v Barnet
• Oldham v Cheltenham
• Shrewsbury v Harrogate
• Swindon v Salford

• Bradford v Cardiff (12:30 GMT)
• Wigan v Bolton (12:30 GMT)
• AFC Wimbledon v Doncaster
• Barnsley v Blackpool
• Burton v Huddersfield
• Exeter v Stevenage
• Leyton Orient v Reading
• Luton v Lincoln
• Mansfield v Port Vale
• Northampton v Wycombe
• Peterborough v Plymouth
• Stockport v Rotherham

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Good afternoon, after weeks of chaotic scheduling and Cup distractions, we're back to business - a full Saturday programme in the EFL awaits.

We are starting with a bang with games involving the teams sitting top and third in both League One and Two among our early slate of fixtures at 12:30 GMT.

And there's plenty more intrigue to come beyond that, with local derbies, play-off showdowns and basement battles to come to take us through to tea-time.

Grab yourself a quick cuppa and, if your New Year resolutions allow, a biscuit, and settle in while we bring you up to speed...