After a dire run of six defeats in eight matches that led to the departure of ex-boss Graham Turner in January, Shrewsbury have enjoyed improved results under the stewardship of Mike Jackson, with just one defeat in their last five games.
Shrewsbury remain third from bottom and deep in the relegation mire, some three points adrift of this weekend's opponents City, who are currently 20th.
Victory by a three-goal margin would see Jackson's men climb above Steve Cotterill's side in the standings and potentially out of the bottom four, depending on Crewe Alexandra's result at play-off chasing Peterborough United.
Another derby - this time concerning two teams in the promotion race - takes place at eighth-placed Walsall, with table-topping Wolves visiting their Midlands neighbours on the back of a seven-match winning streak, in which they have conceded just once.
At the wrong end of the table, second-bottom Stevenage host Tranmere Rovers and Colchester United, a point above the bottom four after Tuesday's goalless draw with Rotherham United, welcome Coventry City.
