Wrexham face an enormous clash on Friday afternoon, welcoming League Two leaders Mansfield Town to the STōK Cae Ras for a top-of-the-table battle.
Saturday’s 3-1 win at Grimsby Town has renewed the belief in the Wrexham fanbase, bouncing back from taking just one point at home to Harrogate Town and Tranmere Rovers.
There may have been some fears of Wrexham fading away but a dominant performance at Blundell Park has raised the automatic promotion hopes again.
That is why Friday’s game is so important; Mansfield sit top of League Two but Wrexham can move level on points with a victory on Friday.
Add in that Wrexham have a game in hand over fourth-placed Milton Keynes Dons and a win on Friday would push Phil Parkinson’s side another step closer to promotion.
Parkinson will be thinking over his starting lineup this week and he will surely be minded to stick with the same XI which demolished Grimsby on Saturday afternoon.
One aspect of the team simply has to stay the same – and that is the front two.
Wrexham must start Paul Mullin and Ollie Palmer v Mansfield Town
Parkinson went with Paul Mullin and Ollie Palmer up top against Grimsby with the pair causing havoc once again.
Wrexham just seem to click a little better when Mullin and Palmer – the front two from last season’s promotion-winning campaign – are leading the line.
The Athletic have now dug into the numbers and show that Wrexham are still unbeaten in their 12 starts together this season, claiming eight wins and four draws, taking 28 points.
Parkinson’s next two most popular partnerships – Mullin and Sam Dalby then Mullin and Steven Fletcher – have produced more mixed results.
It’s three wins and five defeats for Mullin and Dalby whilst Mullin and Fletcher have recorded three wins, two draws and two defeats.
The surprising stat comes with Palmer and Dalby boasting a 100% winning record, claiming three wins from three starts together.
It’s clear to see that Mullin and Palmer are the most effective pairing for Wrexham with their partnership from the National League days now putting Wrexham on the brink of League One.
Having thrown Fletcher in against Tranmere, Parkinson needs to stick with Mullin and Palmer once again with Fletcher and potentially Jack Marriott offering proven options off the bench.