Lincoln City head coach Michael Skubala offers verdict on Bristol Rovers test ahead of Mem visit

Lincoln City head coach Michael Skubala has insisted that his side will have to be at their best to take the three points away at Bristol Rovers this weekend.

The Imps are fifth in League One with 24 points from their opening 13 matches but come into Saturday's clash at the Mem in mixed form, winning two and losing two of their last four in League One. Admittedly, one of those defeats was at home to promotion favourites Birmingham City while the other was a 3-0 loss away at Crawley Town, easily their worst result of the season so far.

From the outside looking in, it certainly appears as though play-offs are the aim for Lincoln this campaign having narrowly missed out on sneaking into the top six last term following an outstanding second half of the season. However, Skubala has warned that it will be a tricky contest in BS7.

READ MORE: Every word Matt Taylor said on Bristol Rovers' progress, Lincoln, loans, set-pieces and more

READ MORE: Matt Taylor expresses gratitude for Bristol Rovers fan inititative set to take place pre-Lincoln

"It's going to be a really tough game," the Lincoln head coach declared to local media. "I think they've turned a corner a little bit in the last couple of games. We know how hard it is. They've got a really exciting, powerful, fast front four. Those players are good, strong, fast, one v one players which are really hard to deal with.

"They're good in transition. They're good when it's a bit messy and a bit scrappy so we've got to be at our best without the ball and with the ball to try and get three points.

"We know it's a tough place to go on the road and we're travelling quite a bit this month but every game is there to try and get three points and that's what we're going to try and do."

The Imps' tally of points collected on the road is almost identical to Rovers' at home with 11 and 12 respectively. However, the Gas can take confidence from the fact that Lincoln's last league away game was that 3-0 loss at relegation-battling Crawley.

Meanwhile, Rovers will be searching for a fifth league win at home this campaign with Saturday their first League One outing since the 1-0 defeat at Reading which was, ironically, the Gas' best performance of the season.

Matt Taylor's side have beaten Northampton Town, Cambridge United, Charlton Athletic and Shrewsbury Town on their own turf while losing to Wigan Athletic and Wycombe Wanderers and will be looking to make a statement by beating one of the league's most exciting teams this weekend.

READ MORE: Promise Omochere, Shaq Forde and James Wilson: Bristol Rovers team news ahead of Lincoln City

READ MORE: Ex-Bristol City and Bristol Rovers coach named Coventry interim boss after Mark Robins sacking