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The game starts a tough run away from home for Tranmere, as in their next five games on the road they face Oldham, Yeovil Town, Bristol City and of course Nottingham Forest, all promotion chasing sides, along with Gillingham.
Nottingham Forest team profile:
Formed: 1865
Ground: The City Ground
Manager: Colin Calderwood
Nickname: The Tricky Trees
Season Finish 2005/06: 7th (Coca-Cola League One)
Previous Meetings:
Earlier in the season when the two sides met at Prenton Park, the game ended as a dull 0-0 draw, a complete anti-climax after the all hype leading upto the game.
Ellison had the best chance for Rovers, as his long-range free-kick was saved by goalkeeper Smith whilst late on Forest had three or four chances but Gavin Ward came out on top, making a number of good saves.
In the 2005/06 season, Forest did the double over Rovers, with now Tranmere striker Gareth Taylor scoring the winner for The Tricky Tree's at The City Ground in October and in April, Grant Holt scored the only goal as Forest won by the same margin.
Vital Stats:
Tranmere have failed to score in their last four games against the former two times European Champions
Rovers have never won in nine visits to The City Ground
In a total of 18 meetings at both venues, the two sides have provided just 38 goals
The two sides have only previously met once in December, with Forest winning 2-0 in the 1981/82 League Cup
Rovers have scored 16 goals in 8 games on December 30th
The Form Book:
Nottingham Forest last 6 home games: WLWDWW
Tranmere last 6 away games: DDDWLW
Nottingham Forest have hit a bit of a sticky patch of late, losing three out of their last four league games. However, things have been good on the whole at The City Ground this season, where Forest have lost just three times in League and Cup this season in 16 games.
Those teams to come away successful from the City Ground have been Scunthorpe United (4-0), Leyton Orient (3-1) and Oldham Athletic (2-0), but 11 of the other 13 games have been home wins.
Carlisle United were one of those two teams to draw in Nottingham, getting a 0-0 draw, whilst Bristol City were the other, as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy match between the two sides ended 2-2 after 90 minutes.
However, many of those to lose at the City Ground have lost convincingly, with Forest keeping six clean sheets in those 11 wins and scoring three or more goals on five occassions.
Bradford City (1-0), Brighton and Hove Albion (2-1) and Chesterfield (4-0) were the first teams to perish in Nottingham before both Carlisle and Oldham picked up useful points.
Swansea City were defeated 3-1, before Scunthorpe hummiliated Calderwood's side, winning 4-0 live on Sky Television.
Since however, Forest have got wins galore. Bristol City (1-0), Brentford (2-0), Millwall (3-1) and Port Vale (3-0) have all been beaten in the league, whilst cup wins have come against Brentford (2-1), Yeading (5-0) and Salisbury (2-0).
For Tranmere, things have picked up on the road of late, with The Super White Army unbeaten in their last four matches on the road.
These four matches have seen them beat Brighton (1-0) before they claimed three consecutive draws, coming from behind to get points against Scunthorpe (1-1), Brentford (1-1) and Huddersfield Town (2-2).
Rovers last away defeat came against Carlisle on 21st Ocotber, when The Blue's beat Rovers 1-0 just four days after Tranmere had defeated Bury 2-0 in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy First Round.
Other away victories in the league have come over Northampton Town (3-1) and Chesterfield (2-0), whilst Rovers have claimed away draws at Doncaster Rovers (0-0) and Swansea City (0-0).
Three further league defeats have come against Cheltenham Town (1-0), Rotherham United (2-1) and Bradford City (2-0) whilst Hull City defeated Rovers 2-1 after extra time in the first round of the Carling Cup at the KC Stadium in August.
Double Hit:
As we have previously looked at Gareth Taylor this season due to his connections with Crewe Alexandra, today we take a look at the career of successful defender Alan Rogers, who moved to Nottingham Forest after starting his career with Tranmere.
Born in Liverpool, the defender came through the successful YTS System at Prenton Park and made his debut under John King in the 95/96 season.
In the end, the right-back spent just two seasons at Prenton Park, as after playing 59 games for his local club, scoring three goals, Rogers had done enough to earn himself a move to high-flying Nottingham Forest for £2,000,000 in July 1997.
He stayed at the City Ground for four years, tasting both Promotion and Relegation to and from the Premiership and made over 150 appearances for The Tricky Trees, scoring 20 goals, before moving to Leicester City for £300,000 in November 2001.
By the time Rogers moved on to Wigan and again Nottingham Forest on loan during the 2003/04 season having made over 60 appearances for The Foxes, scoring two goals.
In May 2005, Rogers made the permanent move back to The City Ground but fell out with manager Gary Megson last season and found himself languishing in the reserves for most of last season.
He spent time on loan at Hull before moving on to Bradford City in August of this year, before being released in October. He remains a free agent today.
It has been an odd fall from grace for Rogers, who was once touted as being the next best thing, with his strong passing and tackling ability - but a demand for too much money has meant he is no longer attached to any club.
One To Watch:
After suffering from injury for the main part of this season, Nathan Tyson has returned to full fitness and is banging in the goals for Colin Calderwood's side.
Tyson started his career with Reading in the 1999/2000 season, but just one goal in 40 games saw the striker fail to establish himself as a first team regular.
Whilst at Reading, he spent time on loan at Maidenhead, Swansea, Cheltenham and Wycombe, as he collectively made 29 appearances, scoring five goals in the process.
After scoring three goals in ten games whilst on loan at Wycombe, Tyson earned himself a move to Adams Park, in March 2004 for a nominal fee.
He went on to score 41 goals in just 77 appearances for the Southern club in his 22 months at Wycome and his good form earned him an initial loan move to Nottingham Forest, then under Gary Megson, in November of last season, with the view to a permanent move.
During his loan spell at The City Ground Tyson scored two goals in eight games, doing enough to convince Megson to sign him permanently on January 1st 2006 for a fee of £675,000.
Since making his move permanent, Tyson has made just 33 appearances in 12 months but has scored an impressive 15 goals. Of those 15 goals, seven have come this season, including three against Crewe, in just 13 games.
Tyson has bags of pace and a great eye for goal, illustrated by his goal on Tuesday for Forest against Port Vale, which was a cheeky back heel past the goalkeeper.
Team News:
Rovers will once again be missing Ollie James and Jason McAteer, who will each me out for atleast another 3 weeks, whilst there is also a doubt over the fitness of Gavin "The Goalscoring Goalkeeper" Ward.
Ward, 36, was replaced by John Achterberg with 20 minutes of Tranmere's Boxing Day fixture against Huddersfield remaining due to a sore calf muscle and he remains a big doubt for Saturday's game.
Jones' Prediction: Nottingham Forest 2-2 Tranmere Rovers