The early season tips of promotion have thus far been found wanting as Rovers sit 14th in the division, not languishing in the grand scheme of things but for a set of supporters whose hopes were raised by the high calibre of pre-season performances and the encouraging words that rolled off Paul Buckle's tongue their start has been none to impressive. Out of the last 270 minutes of football played only 45 have been up to the expected standard, though by that time they were already 2-0 down to Leyton Orient.
The entirety of the team are yet to perform in sync this season, when the defence have held firm the forwards have been found wanting and vice-versa. When the Pirates do hit their rhythm and produce that elusive complete performance you feel that they will be hard to handle, what remain are the questions of when such a display will be produced and whether it can be built upon in time for a tilt at promotion, play-off or otherwise.
This will be the fourth week in a row that the Gas have played Saturday-Tuesday games, the postponement of their first round Carling Cup tie can field the blame for that, and while fatigue should not be a major factor at such an early stage of the season it could end up being a key element against a Wycombe side who will come into the game refreshed, having not played for ten days. Saturday's League 1 fixture with Preston was postponed due to the number of Deepdale based players on international duty, giving Gary Waddock's men a break from competition.
Having started their league season unbeaten in three the Chairboys have proceeded to lose their last two on the trot as well as receiving a 4-1 thumping by Nottingham Forest in the League Cup. The only side they have managed a victory over this term are bottom of the table Leyton Orient who only claimed their first point last weekend in a basement clash with Chesterfield.
Wanderers have shared their nine goals around, only Joel Grant and Scott Donnelly making it past the lonely one while Rovers can boast only one man who can claim such an accolade, former Wycombe striker Matt Harrold netting three goals.
Harrold is not the only player who has played in the sky and navy blue quarters either, both Scott McGleish and Chris Zebroski have been a part of Wycombe line-ups in seasons gone by. On the other side the Chairboys squad contains no less than two ex-Gasmen, wing back Andy Sandell spent a season at the Memorial Stadium, winning promotion via the League 2 play-offs in the process, while central defender James Tunnicliffe was a member of the Rovers squad that was relegated from the third tier last season.
Since then, and since last years Johnstone's Paint Trophy tie, the two clubs have switched both divisions and seasonal targets, Rovers looking for promotion while Wycombe will attempt to stave off the drop come May. That JPT game, also played at Adams Park, saw the Pirates address a poor run of form with an enthralling 6-3 away win, Jo Kuffour scoring a hat-trick in the process, Scott Rendell snapping up the three Wanderers goals on that occasion.
Kuffour is unlikely to trouble Wycombe in this seasons meeting though, the striker looking to orchestrate a move away from Bristol, closer to his London home, Wanderers one of the clubs linked with the tricky forward on a seasons loan deal.
Left back Gary Sawyer could make his first appearance of the season in Buckinghamshire as he looks to have recovered well from a hernia operation. Joe Anyinsah will be missing, once again with a hamstring injury, while Adam Virgo is a doubt with a calf strain. Defender Cian Bolger is definitely out with an ankle ligament injury while Chris Zebroski could be on the sidelines having taken a big hit against Crawley.
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