It is an archetypal relegation six-pointer at the Riverside on Saturday as Middlesbrough host Blackburn.
Boro look for first league win of the year
It is an archetypal relegation six-pointer at the Riverside on Saturday as Middlesbrough host Blackburn.
The two sides go into the match with just a point between them at the wrong end of the table.
But the mood in both camps could not be more different. Sam Allardyce has revitalised Rovers since taking charge at Ewood Park in mid-December.
In stark-contract, Boro have not won in 11 league games and are in desperate need of three points against Rovers.
Boro should have taken three points against Rovers in their last meeting in October before Benni McCarthy levelled in injury time.
But Boro do need to buck the trend as they have not beaten Blackburn in their last seven Premier League encounters.
If Boro were to win, then it would be their first home victory since October.
Team news
Boro could very well hand a home debut to Marlon King after he started the midweek defeat at Chelsea.
However, manager Gareth Southgate is almost certain to return to a two-man front-line, so Afonso Alves and Tuncay Sanli will be pushing for recalls.
Gary O'Neil is suspended, as is Didier Digard, so Julio Arca could be pushing for a recall, with Matthew Bates and Mohammed Shawky unlikely to start as a pairing in midfield.
Full-backs Justin Hoyte and Andrew Taylor are also pushing for a recall.
Blackburn's only new injury issue is David Dunn and he has been ruled out of the trip to Teesside because of a minor Achilles problem.
Rovers boss Alladryce will have to decide whether to recall Roque Santa Cruz and Tugay, after the pair came on during the midweek draw with Bolton.
Possible starting XIs
Middlesbrough Turnbull, Hoyte, Pogatetz, Wheater, Riggott, Johnson, Downing, Arca, Bates, King, Tuncay.
Blackburn: Robinson, Ooijer, Samba, Nelsen, Warnock, Emerton, Andrews, Grella, Pedersen, Roberts, McCarthy.
