Two of the Championship's promotion favourites meet at the Riverside Stadium on Tuesday evening when Middlesbrough host Brentford.
Boro have recovered following a slow start to the season, while the visitors are languishing towards the bottom end of the table.
Middlesbrough
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Middlesbrough have not got off to a flying start to the campaign by any means, but they are well-placed after six games.
Last season's playoff runners-up have splashed out on several new signings over the summer, and it appears that the team is beginning to find its feet after the disappointment of last term.
The re-signing of Stewart Downing has given the club and the supporters a lift, and it was the former England midfielder who helped Boro to victory over the weekend.
After a goalless 70 minutes against MK Dons, the winger cut in from the right-hand side of midfield before bending a shot into the far corner past David Martin, before David Nugent sealed the victory 11 minutes later.
The pressure is on Karanka to deliver promotion after coming so close last season. The Spaniard has strengthened well over the summer and will feel confident that he can end the club's six-year exile from the Premier League.
Recent form: WDLWW
Brentford
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Brentford have had a tough time of it under new head coach Marinus Dijkhuizen, winning just one of their opening six fixtures.
After reaching the playoff semi-finals last season - where they lost to Middlesbrough - they were tipped by many to be among the promotion challengers, despite opting to part ways with manager Mark Warburton.
There will be some Brentford supporters who are now doubting that decision, as the team currently sit closer to the bottom three than the top six.
Having lost consecutive games to Burnley and Reading, they did manage to get a point on the board at Leeds United last time out, with a 1-1 draw about the fair result at Elland Road on Saturday.
Despite losing Andre Gray during the transfer window, Brentford have not been short of goals, scoring eight from five matches. However, their defence has not been so effective, with nine goals conceded. Had they been stronger at the back, there is a good chance that they would be sitting higher than 18th at the present time.
It is still early days for Dijkhuizen and the club's new management structure, but a win at the Riverside on Tuesday would silence the doubters and get the fans believing that another successful season might be on the cards.
Recent form: DWLLL
Team News
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Karanka will make a late decision on defender Ben Gibson's fitness after he was forced off four minutes into the second half of Saturday's victory over MK Dons with a hamstring injury.
Fernando Amorebieta replaced him at the weekend and could do so again against the Bees.
Brentford will be looking to bring midfielder Andy Gogia back into the side after he missed the draw at Leeds with injury, while new signings Ryan Woods and Sergi Canos could make their full debuts.
Dijkhuizen will be without Josh McEachran, Marcos Tebar, Scott Hogan and Andreas Bjelland, who all remain sidelined.
Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:
Konstantopoulos; Kalas, Ayala, Amorebieta, Friend; Leadbitter, Clayton, Reach, Downing; Fabbrini, Nugent
Brentford possible starting lineup:
Button; Colin, Bidwell, Dean, Djuricin; McCormack, Kerschbaumer, Judge, Diagouraga; Vibe, Tarkowski
Head To Head
Middlesbrough have enjoyed the better of it historically against Brentford, with 11 wins to the Londoners' seven.
The Teesiders won all four of the meetings between the two last season, including both legs of the playoff semi-finals by an aggregate score of 5-1. The last meeting at the Riverside was the second leg of that playoff clash, which Boro won 3-0.
Brentford are looking for their first win over Middlesbrough in the league since December 1938.
We say: Middlesbrough 2-1 Brentford
Middlesbrough are beginning to show the kind of form that took them close to a Premier League return last season. With three wins on the spin under their belt, the team's confidence has grown and they will have just too much for Brentford, who are still looking to recapture their form of last season.
Steven Toplis
