Both aiming to avoid unthinkable relegations to the third tier of English football, Cardiff City and Stoke City will battle it out at the Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday afternoon in the Championship.
The Bluebirds salvaged a point at the end of a less-than-inspiring display at Preston North End last time out, whilst the Potters are still reeling from late heartbreak at home versus Luton Town.
Match preview
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After returning from the riches of the Premier League in 2019 under Neil Warnock, Cardiff City have experienced a steady six-year decline in the Championship for the most part, with the Welsh club on the verge of dropping out of the second tier at the end of a bitterly disappointing campaign.
Those of a positive deposition will argue that the Bluebirds are in good recent form - unbeaten in each of their last four second-tier battles - but Saturday's hosts have failed to win any of their three league contests since the resumption of action following the March international break.
It appeared as if Cardiff were on course for their maiden defeat of April on Tuesday night at Deepdale, where goals from Milutin Osmajic and Stefan Thordarson fired Preston in front heading into the final stages, although the visitors secured a last-gasp equaliser courtesy of substitute Yakou Meite.
Following three straight stalemates in the second tier, Omer Riza's troops are currently occupying 22nd spot in the Championship standings, level on points with 21st-placed Derby County heading into the last five games of the season, meaning that the Welsh outfit have plenty of work to do in order to avoid the drop.
The Bluebirds have struggled at the Cardiff City Stadium this term and will be looking to end a four-match winless streak at the venue on Saturday afternoon, when the hosts could record their first maximum in South Wales since the narrow success over Hull City on February 25.
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After earning hero status in the East Midlands at Coventry City over the past seven years - planning a route to the top flight in recent times - experienced boss Mark Robins is now battening down the hatches as Stoke City manager, in the midst of a second-tier relegation fight.
The Potters have returned from the March international break and posted a respectable three-game unbeaten streak, but their last two contests have both resulted in frustrating shares of the spoils, with the most recent of those arriving at the bet365 Stadium on Tuesday night.
Stepping up in an attacking sense since the January departure of leading marksman Tom Cannon, former Chelsea youngster Lewis Baker fired the Staffordshire side ahead against Luton, however it was the struggling Hatters who enjoyed the last laugh as Millenic Alli netted an added-time equaliser.
Despite losing just one of their last five matches in the second tier, the Potters still find themselves in a precarious position as they look to extend their stay in the division into an eighth year, with Robins's troops sitting 20th in the league table, just two points above the dreaded bottom three.
Possibly down to the loss of Leicester City loanee Cannon during January, Stoke possess one of the poorest attacking records on the road in the Championship, with the Staffordshire outfit finding the net just 15 times across 20 away games - only Oxford United (13) and Plymouth Argyle (8) have scored fewer on their respective travels.
Team News
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Cardiff are without a number of their experienced players as they navigate a tricky relegation fight, with both Aaron Ramsey (hamstring) and Anwar El-Ghazi (back) on the treatment table.
The Bluebirds are also unable to call upon the talents of first-choice goalkeeper Jak Alnwick, who suffered a hamstring strain at the end of February.
As a result, American shot-stopper Ethan Horvath continues to hold down the fort in between the sticks, with Matthew Turner representing the backup pick on the bench.
Stoke are short of options on the flanks due to the absences of Enda Stevens and Josh Wilson-Esbrand, with the pair hopeful of featuring again this season.
Looking for an influx of attacking inspiration on the road, the Potters could bring Ali Al Hamadi and Lewis Koumas into the starting XI in South Wales.
Cardiff City possible starting lineup:
Horvath; Rinomhota, Goutas, Fish, Daland; Chambers, Mannsverk; O'Dowda, Alves; Meite, Robinson
Stoke City possible starting lineup:
Johansson; Tchmadeu, Phillips, Wilmot, Bocat; Pearson, Burger; Koumas, Baker, Bae; Gallagher
We say: Cardiff City 2-1 Stoke City
After three straight draws, Cardiff City will be desperate for maximum points on their own patch against fellow strugglers Stoke this weekend.
The Potters are notoriously poor on the road and could be set for another disappointing outing, worsening their situation in the relegation dogfight.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
