Hull City host Ipswich Town at the KC Stadium on Tuesday evening, with both sides looking to give their promotion bids a boost.
The Tigers sit just outside the playoff positions following a solid run of form of late, while Ipswich are 10th and just four points off the top six.
Hull City
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Hull were tipped to be one of the promotion contenders following their relegation from the Premier League last season, and so far they have largely lived up to those expectations.
Steve Bruce's side have been in and around the promotion places since the season began and have kept in touch with the top six thanks to a run of five games unbeaten, although three of those have been draws.
They were made to work hard for their latest point, though, as an Abel Hernandez goal earned them a share of the spoils at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.
However, Derby County's win at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers means that Hull have dropped out of the playoff places ahead of this game, so Bruce and his side will be looking to rectify that against a misfiring Ipswich side.
Recent form: LWDDWD
Recent form (all competitions): WDWDWD
Ipswich Town
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Ipswich, like Hull, were tipped by many to be fighting it out at the top this term, but they have not been at their convincing best of late which has dented their hopes of a top-six finish.
It is still early days of course, but one win from their last six games suggests that Mick McCarthy's side have plenty of work to do to get back among the promotion hopefuls.
With many of their key personnel still in place from last season, where they reached the playoff semi-finals, Ipswich supporters would have been hoping for a better return so far.
Their wait for a win extended to four games on Saturday as they drew 0-0 at Huddersfield Town, in a match that will have done little to satisfy followers of either side.
The tight nature of the Championship means that Ipswich are likely to be in touch with the top six and, with the experience of McCarthy at the helm, they are more than capable of regaining their best form.
Recent form: LWDDLD
Recent form (all competitions): WDLDLD
Team News
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Bruce has no fresh injury concerns and could go with the same 11 that drew at Sheffield Wednesday.
The Hull boss will check on the fitness of Hernandez and Mohamed Diame, though, after both played in the 1-1 draw on Saturday having previously been on international duty.
Midfielder Robert Snodgrass and striker Adama Diomande remain their only long-term injury absentees.
Ipswich will be without Tommy Oar for the clash. The midfielder came off with concussion midway through the draw against Huddersfield and will not recover in time.
Jay Tabb and Luke Hyam are also out with hamstring and knee injuries respectively, but Teddy Bishop is back in training after a hamstring injury and could feature.
Hull City possible starting lineup:
McGregor; Elmohamady, Dawson, Davies, Odubajo; Huddlestone, Diame, Livermore; Maloney, Hernandez, Clucas
Ipswich Town possible starting lineup:
Gerken; Chambers, Smith, Berra, Knudsen; Maitland-Niles, Skuse, Douglas, Sears; Murphy, McGoldrick
Head To Head
Hull have had the better of this fixture in recent seasons and are undefeated in their last seven matches against Ipswich in all competitions.
The last time that the two sides met was in the 2012-13 Championship season, with Hull doing the double over their Suffolk opponents. The Tigers won 2-1 at the KC before emerging 2-1 victors again from the return fixture at Portman Road.
We say: Hull City 2-1 Ipswich Town
Ipswich will not make it easy for Hull as the experienced managers Bruce and McCarthy go head to head. However, Hull have just enough extra quality to break teams down and that could prove to be the difference in this one.
Steven Toplis
