**Sandefjord's got the home-field edge and the head-to-head history** — they've dominated this fixture over the years, and they'll be looking to flex on a Start side that's streaky at best. 🔥

Sandefjord are mixed bag lately (1W, 2D, 2L), but a draw at home vs Viking and a stalemate vs Brann show they can dig in defensively. Start fired a 4-1 thrashing at KFUM but then got spanked 0-2 at Aalesund, so consistency is their kryptonite.

Key storylines:

- **Sandefjord's depth issues** — missing five players including **D. Koswal**, **F. L. Bjune**, and two suspended, so squad rotation is real

- **Start's roller-coaster form** — big wins and big losses in the same window makes them hard to predict, but **E. Schulze** and **H. Lorentzen** up front have flashed

- **Home fortress mentality** — Sandefjord unbeaten in their last two at Jotun Arena despite injuries piling up

Expected lineups:

- **Sandefjord Fotball**: E. Hadaya, V. W. Egeli, F. C. Pedersen, X. Lambrix, R. Holten, S. Mork, E. Patoulidis, T. Borkeeiet, B. Berntsen, O. Kapskarmo

- **IK Start**: S. Strand-Kolbjörnsen, J. B. Husebø, A. Ujkani, S. A. Granheim, O. D. Toure, E. Segberg, S. Mvoué, E. Schulze, J. Cornelius, H. Lorentzen

Prediction:

**Sandefjord 2–1 IK Start**

Home side has the slight lean here — defensive solidity and the head-to-head record tip it their way.