MANSFIELD Town manager Steve Evans expects Swindon Town to be in the thick of the promotion shake-up in League Two come the end of the season.

Evans brings his Stags side to the Energy Check County Ground tomorrow with both teams occupying positions in the play-offs, with seventh-placed Town two places and two points behind their weekend visitors.

Swindon roared to a dominant 3-1 win in the reverse fixture back in October, with the scoreline only given a slightly less emphatic feel by a late Mansfield consolation.

Mansfield arrive in Wiltshire in top form as the teams prepare to resume battle, in the midst of a nine-match unbeaten run in the league and seeking a fourth win in a row.

Evans’ side could climb as a high as second with victory at the weekend, although the Stags boss believes Town can feature just as prominently in the running for promotion.

“I think Swindon are terrific, to be fair,” said Evans. “They gave us a 3-1 wiping here, didn’t they? It could have been more.”

“I watched them win 1-0 at Stevenage last week and it could have been three or four.

“It was probably one of the most comfortable games I’ve seen for an away side.

“I’ve been very impressed with Swindon – I think they will be there at the end.

“I said to the players two or three weeks ago that when we were looking at a little booklet of four games, two at home and two away.

“I genuinely looked at Morecambe (on January 27) and Swindon away and said if we can take four points from those and six at home, we’ll be bang right in the mix.

“Well, we’ve taken the six at home and three at Morecambe, now we’re going to try to get three at Swindon but I know how tough it’s going to be.

“It’s a fantastic place to go and play football.

“It’s a nice stadium and they have a good support behind them.

“But we will take a good support too. Our away supporters have often been the difference, as they were at Morecambe late on – and they got a pay day.”

Town made an approach for Evans’ services during their hunt for a manager last summer prior to the appointment of Flitcroft and although flattered by the interest, the 55-year-old Scot believes Swindon have ended up with the right man for the job.

“When Swindon made an approach for me I was very humbled and honoured as, I said at the time, they are a big club,” said Evans.

“They are a Championship club every day of the week.

“When I saw Dave Flitcroft had got the job, I thought it was a shrewd appointment.”