Nottingham Forest could end a topsy-turvy season with a top-half finish in the Championship if they can beat Cardiff City at the City Ground.
However, the Bluebirds know that a victory on the banks of the River Trent could see the Welsh outfit end the campaign in the top 12 themselves.
Nottingham Forest
© Getty Images
Dougie Freedman started this term in the Championship, seeing his team threatened with relegation.
Of course, his time in charge of Bolton Wanderers was curtailed in October, with the Trotters languishing near the bottom of the table and turning to ex-Celtic supremo Neil Lennon as a result.
However, Freedman was given the chance to take charge of Forest after they sacked Stuart Pearce, following a run of three wins in 23 matches, which saw the Reds slip from contenders from automatic promotion to mid-table by February.
Freedman was able to arrest that slump initially, but the East Midlands outfit have lost their touch of late and need to end a poor sequence of results, with Forest losing five of their last seven.
An injury to record signing Britt Assombalonga hasn't helped, with the Congolese forward out until February next year.
Indeed, goals from attack have been hard to come by, with two of the last 11 goals coming from a recognised striker in the form of Dexter Blackstock. It was Christophe Berra's own-goal which brought Forest back into their last game at Ipswich before losing 2-1 at Portman Road.
Recent form:LDLLDL
Cardiff City
© Getty Images
Cardiff boss Russell Slade and Bluebirds supporters may be forgiven for looking more towards next season for hope of returning to the Premier League.
The South Wales side were among the favourites for promotion back in August, but saw previous manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer leave by September, having won just five of 25 league games in charge.
Slade was drafted in from Leyton Orient and has, at least, taken Cardiff away from any danger of back-to-back relegations.
While City have never threatened to sneak into the playoffs, a top-10 finish is still within reach, although their recent form has been mixed.
The side from the principality have won three and lost two of their last seven Championship encounters, including a narrow 3-2 win over already-relegated Blackpool last weekend.
Cardiff's form on the road is more encouraging, with four wins and only one defeat – the 3-1 reverse at Ipswich Town – in their previous six on their travels.
Recent form: DLWLDW
Team News
© Getty Images
Freedman's side appear to have no fresh injury worries from their defeat at Ipswich and, with Assombalonga's long-term absence, the Scot could continue with Blackstock and Chuba Akpom in his forward line.
Jorge Grant, who hasn't featured since September due to injury, could be handed a return to the starting lineup, while Andy Reid and Matty Fryatt remain sidelined.
Chris Burke and Modou Barrow may also be in contention to play at the City Ground.
Meanwhile, Cardiff may opt to keep Joe Mason and Eoin Doyle in attack as the latter scored a brace of penalties in the victory over Blackpool.
Defender Ben Turner and Nicky Maynard, who is out of contract in the summer, could also play some part against Forest.
Nottingham Forest possible starting lineup:
Darlow; Lichaj, Lascelles, Hobbs, Mancienne; Antonio, Lansbury, Vaughan, Osborn; Blackstock, Akpom
Cardiff City possible starting lineup:
Marshall, Peltier, Ecuele Manga, Morrison, Fabio, Kennedy, Gunnarsson, Ralls, Noone, Doyle, Mason
Head To Head
Cardiff have been something of a bogey side for Forest, with the Midlands outfit having won 10 of 47 meetings between the teams. Indeed, since August 2003, the Reds have struggled against the Welshmen, picking up just three victories in 15 encounters.
Forest's last win over City came at the City Ground in October 2012, although then manager Sean O'Driscoll would be sacked by the club two months later.
The reverse fixture, last October, saw Cardiff beat Forest 2-1 in Slade's first game in charge. It would also end Forest's unbeaten start to the season and begin a torrid run of form that would lead to Pearce eventually leaving the City Ground.
Video Preview
Hit play below to see what the Sports Mole Sofa had to say about this encounter:
We say: Forest 3-2 Cardiff
With both teams still hopeful of a top-10 finish and keen to end difficult seasons on a high, there is a good chance that we'll see plenty of goals at the City Ground. Neither team are in dazzling form, but we've gone for Forest to edge this one.
No Data Analysis info
