The first Devon Expressway derby of the 2022-23 season between Plymouth Argyle and Exeter City promises to be a memorable encounter for a number of reasons.
Probably the biggest reason is that the two sides head into the match at Home Park occupying their highest respective league positions prior to any such fixture. The Pilgrims are currently top of League One while the Grecians are seventh in the table - just outside the play-off zone.
Argyle will be heading into the meeting looking to avenge their 4-0 defeat at St James Park in October 2019 - the suspension of football due to the Covid-19 pandemic meant that the return fixture at Home Park couldn't take place. Manager Steven Schumacher was working as assistant manager to Ryan Lowe at the time and will surely be mindful of the fact that this is no ordinary game to the 'Green Army.'
Grecians new boss Gary Caldwell has experienced some of the more fierce rivalries in British football, including arguably the fierciest of them all - having played in the Old Firm derby for Celtic against Rangers.
The match will also mark Caldwell's second game in charge, after he was appointed as the successor to the Rotherham United bound Matt Taylor. The derby gives him the chance to make a lasting early impression on the Grecians' faithful.
Nevertheless, with live TV Coverage provided by Sky, it has all the making of a classic, and hopefully it will prove to be box office viewing.
