IPL match preview: Lucknow Super Giants v Mumbai Indians

Only the Gujarat Titans have booked their play-offs berth - and there are other spots up for grabs as two of the top-performing teams in this seasons' IPL face off at a venue that will likely suit plenty of spin.

Mumbai had a difficult start to their campaign, but have shaken that off and won four of their last matches. At this stage during the 2022 IPL, they were trying to avoid the bottom of the standings. This year, they have a very real chance of winning the tournament again.

Mumbai will have to go without England fast bowler Jofra Archer again. He has been ruled out of the rest of the tournament. Opportunity knocks, then, for Mumbai's local talent to step up with the ball in Archer's absence.

Lucknow only have two wins to show for their last five matches. They did enough at the start of the tournament to ensure that this rough patch could be weathered successfully. Now they need to make sure they finish the job and get into the next stage of the tournament.

Lucknow and the Mumbai Indians have a brief head-to-head history. The Super Giants won both their meetings in 2022. This is the first time they will clash this season.

Lucknow took a while to get South African batsman Quinton de Kock into the playing XI, but the injury absence of KL Rahul has effectively provided a belated spot for the Proteas star. De Kock has scored 70 and 29 in his last two IPL innings.

Another Proteas cricketer in Tristan Stubbs could filter into Mumbai's batting order. They continue to go without Dewald Brevis, but its Stubbs' firepower through the middle overs that could prove the difference in this key fixture.

Mumbai are evidently on a roll and will likely win this one, too. Lucknow have lost momentum and haven't been helped by the exit of captain Rahul.