Two relegation rivals square off in the Championship on Saturday afternoon as Hull City host Derby County at the MKM Stadium.
Just two points separate the clubs in the standings, and the Rams could leapfrog the Tigers in the table with a win.
Match preview
© Imago
Heading into the weekend, both sides are currently above the dreaded drop zone, and they will be hoping that it remains that way at the end of the campaign.
The hosts can get to 51 points with a victory in this match, and that tally would be enough to ensure their survival in the division for another season.
Hull ended a three-game winless run in the league on Easter Monday as they secured all three points with a 2-1 win over Preston North End.
Two penalties from Joe Gelhardt in the second half helped overturn a 1-0 deficit at the break to seal a crucial win for the Yorkshire side.
The hosts had only scored two goals in their previous five matches prior to the victory at the weekend, and finding the back of the net has proven tricky for the hosts all season.
Hull have netted less than a goal a game with 43 goals in 44 matches, which is the second-lowest goal tally in the Championship, with only Luton Town scoring fewer goals than the Tigers.
They have earned 33 of their points under Ruben Selles, since the Spaniard left Reading to join the strugglers in December, and having inherited a squad in the relegation zone, it would certainly be an achievement to secure survival with a game remaining.
Hull will hope that this is the case following the conclusion of this weekend's matches, so that they can travel to Portsmouth on the final day of the season with no worries about relegation.
© Imago
However, they take on a Derby team that are also in need of the points this weekend, as they can take a huge step towards survival themselves.
John Eustace's decision to swap a promotion battle with Blackburn Rovers for a relegation dogfight at Derby was a surprise to many, but heading into the penultimate weekend of the campaign, his side sit outside the relegation places.
With Blackburn currently unlikely to reach the playoffs, if the Rams stay up, Eustace's decision will be justified.
Eustace has helped turn the club's season around, with five wins and two draws from his opening 12 games in charge.
Four of those came in March, as Derby sealed four consecutive victories in a promising month, following three defeats in a row to begin Eustace's reign.
In the five matches since, the Rams have picked up five points, with their only victory coming on Easter Monday in a 3-1 victory away to West Bromwich Albion.
That triumph was only Derby's third away win of the campaign, but they may fancy their chances against the Tigers, who have the worst home record in the division, with only five wins at the MKM Stadium all season.
With little to separate the two sides in the standings, it is perhaps not a surprise that the last meeting between the two clubs ended in a draw.
Xavier Simons put Hull ahead at Pride Park in October, before Dajaune Brown equalised to secure a point apiece for both sides.
Team News
© Imago
The hosts have several injury worries for this match, with Mohamed Belloumi, Liam Millar and Dogukan Sinik all sidelined.
In better news for Hull, Matt Crooks is back following a one-match ban, and Louie Barry could be back in contention following a lengthy injury.
Meanwhile, Derby have goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom out for the rest of the campaign with a head injury.
Elsewhere, Brown, who scored in the reverse fixture, is expected to miss out due to injury, along with Kemar Roofe and David Ozoh.
Hull City possible starting lineup:
Pandur; McLoughlin, Hughes, Egan, Coyle; Alzate, Slater, Kamara, Gelhardt, Amrabat; Joseph
Derby County possible starting lineup:
Vickers; Forsyth, Clarke, Phillips, Langas, Wilson; Adams, Armstrong, Thompson; Harness, Yates
We say: Hull City 1-2 Derby County
Derby got back to winning ways at West Brom, and we think that they will secure a big three points in the relegation battle this weekend.
Hull have struggled at home throughout the campaign, and they could be involved in a nervy final day at Fratton Park if this result happens.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Tom Humphrey
