The Field Mill pitch passed a 9.40am inspection on Saturday following 24 hours of heavy rain - including two deluges on Friday afternoon and again at around midnight.

Even though more rain is forecast throughout Saturday, the match referee - a groundsman at Blackburn Rovers who had stayed overnight in anticipation of an early inspection - gave the top of the table clash the go-ahead.

Groundman Michael Merriman told the club's official website mansfieldtown.net:

"I came in expecting to have to work like a carthorse, but the pitch is pretty dry, very dry actually. I wonder why it is so dry to be honest, inbviously the drains are working very well.

"Yesterday afternoon it was in places completely underwater, so I was a little surprised this morning to see it has all disappeared, with the rain we have had overnight.

"Yesterday I thought there was not a chance it would be on.

"We can cope with rain today, just touchwood not a crazy downpour this afternoon."

The Stags, third in the Blue Square Premier, are chasing a fifth successive home win - a feat last achieved in 2002.

But Borough are the surprise team in the division so far. Expected to be relegation candidates, they have won their last three matches and sit in eighth place.

Viktor Illugason, an under-19 Iceland international on loan from Reading, is expected to start for the visitors after featuring asa substitute in the midweek win over Forest Green Rovers.

For the Stags, striker Jason Lee will face a fitness test after missing the midweek draw at York City.