BARNSLEY host one of the form teams and best defences in League One, Lincoln City, from 3pm.
The Imps are tenth, eigth points off the top six and 15 below the fourth-placed Reds. Since New Year’s Day, Michael Skubala’s side are unbeaten in ten, with five wins and five draws, while only Barnsley and leaders Portsmouth have more points from the last ten games.
Only Portsmouth have conceded fewer goals than Lincoln this season who have let in 32 in 36 games.
The Imps have conceded just two goals in their last nine games, with clean sheets in the last four.
The last time they let in a goal was on February 13 in a 1-1 draw at Charlton Athletic, after which they have not conceded in more than six hours of football.
They are unbeaten in four away games.
On Saturday they drew 0-0 at home to play-off hopefuls Stevenage, missing the chance to reduce the gap to the top six to five points.
Their current run also includes goalless stalemates with other top six sides Derby County and Peterborough United, but all of the five teams they have beaten in that sequence are placed 16th or below.
Barnsley head coach Neill Collins said: “We’re playing against one of the best teams in the league at the moment and all their games are really tight.
“They have a good mix of being able to put you under pressure but also playing good football.
“We can’t let the league table skew it, they are one of the top teams.
“They don’t give away anything for cheap. If it has to be 1-0 it has to be but sometimes in football these things go out the window quickly. We know we will have to have a fantastic performance.”
Barnsley’s last two home games have been against top four rivals Derby and Bolton with large crowds.
“Everyone has come together in the last few months. We have given the away fans a lot to cheer about. We short-changed our home fans early on but we’re starting to give them more special moments. I am looking forward to another game at Oakwell.”
Centre-back Adam Jackson, who played 44 games for Barnsley between 2016 and 2019, was a regular for Lincoln but has been out since breaking his nose and suffering two black eyes last month during an aerial challenge.
Midfielder Ethan Erhahon, who was loaned to the Reds in 2020 but played for the under 21s only, has started almost every game this season.
The Reds drew 2-2 at Sincil Bank in November. After Jordan Williams conceded an early penalty, Barry Cotter and John McAtee scored within minutes midway through the second half, only for TJ Eyoma to level in the 88th minute.
This will be the 75th meeting of the clubs, with Barnsley winning 33 and losing 25.
They did not play in the league for 46 years until last season, although the Reds won three League Cup ties.
Barnsley could not net in three meetings with the Imps last season, losing at home 3-0 in the EFL Trophy and 1-0 in the league then drawing 0-0 away in April which essentially ended their top two chances.
Lincoln have won their last four league games at Oakwell without conceding. They have not lost in nine league meetings with the Reds since 1973, winning six and drawing three.
