Notts County suffered relegation from the English Football League for the first time in their history in 2018-19, and after three years of failing to return to League Two, they finally won the 2022-23 playoffs to secure promotion back to the fourth division.

The Magpies appeared well-positioned for a second consecutive promotion after a strong start to their League Two campaign last season, leading the table after 12 matchdays, but a disappointing collapse was to follow.

Notts County had dropped into seventh by matchday 28, by which time Luke Williams had also departed the club and Stuart Maynard had arrived, and they fell even further as they recorded an eventual 14th-placed finish.

Maynard would have been looking for a significantly improved second season in League Two, and the Magpies are currently in good standing to earn promotion into League One for the first time since 2014-15.

The Magpies are sixth in the table with 68 points from 41 fixtures - after 19 wins, 11 draws and 11 defeats - leaving them just four points outside the automatic promotion spots and only five behind the league leaders, while they are six above eighth-placed Colchester United.

However, Maynard's side have experienced another worrying dip in form over the past outings, managing just four wins and three draws in their last 12 matches, which has seen them slip from second in the table.

With five games of the League Two season remaining, Maynard will be eager for his side to return to form, with sights set on returning to the top three, and a victory on Friday could be crucial for that objective.

Notts County will face a potentially challenging matchup though, with Salford City also in desperate need of points as they aim to break into the top seven before the season's end.

The Ammies, who had flirted with promotion in each of their first four League Two seasons before enduring a dismal 20th-placed finish last term, have experienced a rather inconsistent 2024-25 campaign.

Karl Robinson's side began the season with just six wins from their first 18 league matches, but then went on a remarkable run of six consecutive victories without conceding a single goal, lifting them to third in the standings.

However, an 8-0 defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup triggered another poor run of form, with the Ammies managing just three wins in their next 16 league matches, though they are unbeaten in their past four games.

Those results leave Salford City sitting 11th in the league with 58 points from 40 matches, meaning they trail seventh-placed Grimsby Town by seven points.

The Ammies do have the benefit of a game in hand on those around them, meaning that gap could be closed to four points, but Robinson's men will need to embark on a seriously improved run in the final six fixtures if they are to secure a playoff place.

Salford will look to draw confidence from their strong record against Notts County, as the Ammies have won three and lost only one of their last four meetings across all competitions - including a 3-0 win in the reverse fixture this term.

Notts County possible starting lineup:

Slocombe; Macari, Platt, Bedeau; Jones, Hinchy, Palmer, Whitaker, Jarvis; McGoldrick, Jatta

Salford City possible starting lineup:

Young; Edwards, Tilt, Garbutt; Mnoga, Ashley, Fornah, Adelakun; Woodburn; Stockton, N'Mai