The Spireites head into their first EFL campaign in ten years, welcoming Walsall to the SMH Group Stadium for the first leg of the League Two play-off semi-final.
Paul Cook’s side lost one from their last 13 to sneak into seventh place and take the last play-off spot.
On the other hand, the Saddlers won just one of their last 14 games to narrowly miss out on automatic promotion.
Head-to-head
The two sides have gone head-to-head 96 times since the first meeting back in November 1899, a 6-3 win for Walsall.
Chesterfield have notched 31 wins, Walsall have tasted victory on 36 occasions, and there have been 29 draws.
The Birmingham-based outfit have earned four points from the two fixtures this season.
A 2-2 draw at the SMH Group Stadium in October was followed by a 3-1 win for Mat Sadler’s side at the Poundland Bescot Stadium in February.
Manager – Mat Sadler
Mat Sadler had two spells with Walsall during his 20-year playing career, first joining the club in 2011.
He left a year later before returning in 2019. Over his two stints, the defender played 113 times for the Saddlers and scored four times.
Sadler announced his retirement from playing in 2022 before taking his first step into management a year later – also at Walsall.
The 40-year-old has managed the club on 113 occasions, winning 46 times. He also won the League Two Manager of the Month award for December 2024.
Player-in-focus
At Walsall’s recent End of Season awards, Taylor Allen picked up both the Players’ Player of the Season and the Supporters’ Player of the Season.
Alongside that, the defender also earned a spot in the League Two Team of the Season with team-mate Connor Barrett.
This season, the Walsall-born player has played 54 times in all competitions, mostly from defence.
Allen scored ten times and provided seven assists in a particularly prolific campaign for the former League Two champion.
