Adams may look to changes
Manager Micky Adams may freshen up his team for the visit of fellow automatic promotion contenders Burton.
Adams made three changes from the side that beat Cheltenham at home last Friday when Vale travelled to Chesterfield on Monday.
Two were enforced with Louis Dodds (ankle) and Lee Hughes (hamstring) missing out through injury, while the fit-again Darren Purse replaced Jamie McCombe at centre-half.
It remains to be seen whether Dodds or Hughes will recover in time to return to the squad on Friday night.
Chris Birchall could be in line for a recall after coming on after just 37 minutes to stiffen up the midfield against the Spireites.
Sam Morsy was an unused substitute at the Proact Stadium on his return from suspension, while fellow midfielder Chris Shuker, who set up Tom Pope's late equaliser on Monday, and striker Ben Williamson will also be fresh.
Victory for Vale would move them five points behind Gillingham ahead of the league leaders hosting Torquay on Saturday.
Burton will check on Billy Kee ahead of their trip.
Kee is nursing a hamstring injury following the 3-3 draw with Accrington on Monday. The striker played through the pain at the Crown Ground and is now a doubt for Friday night.
Albion boss Gary Rowett will have his fingers crossed for positive news on Kee, who has scored 13 goals this season, especially as Calvin Zola is still struggling with a long-standing hamstring and hip problem and Michael Symes continues to look off the pace after suffering a groin strain a month ago.
Should there be a shortage of strikers, winger Alex MacDonald, who played 70 minutes against Accrington as a centre-forward, could move inside.
One player who will definitely miss out is suspended midfielder Robbie Weir who completes a two-match ban.
Victory for Burton would move them into third place, a point behind Vale, ahead of Saturday's fixtures.
Source: PA
Source: PA