Preview: Cardiff City vs. Middlesbrough

Two of the Championship's top three sides meet this Saturday, as Cardiff City host Middlesbrough.

A win for Cardiff would move them above the visitors into the automatic promotion places.

Matt Connolly should be back in the side despite suffering tightness in his thigh in their game at Charlton last week.

Kevin McNaughton is unlikely to feature having picked up a thigh strain.

Don Cowie, Tommy Smith and Jordan Mutch are still recovering from injuries, while Craig Bellamy could be named on the bench having been declared fit again.

Middlesbrough could be without Jonathan Woodgate, who picked up a calf strain against Sheffield Wednesday.

Kevin Thomson is also a doubt with the same complaint.

Both will be assessed ahead of the trip to Cardiff.

Recent form

Cardiff: LWWLLW

Middlesbrough: WWWWDW

Possible lineups

Cardiff: Marshall, Connolly, Taylor, Hudson, Turner, Whittingham, Kim Bo-Kyung, Noone, Gunnarsson, Mason, Helguson

Middlesbrough: Steele, Hoyte, Amougou, Friend, Hines, Leadbitter, McEachran, Emnes, Ledesma, McDonald, Miller

Sports Mole says: 2-2