Two sides firmly embroiled in a basement battle meet on Saturday as Southampton face Nottingham Forest.
Forest go in search of success at the Saints
Two sides firmly embroiled in the Championship basement battle meet on the South Coast as Southampton face Nottingham Forest.
The Saints are currently perched one place, and four points, outside of the drop zone, but only one win in eight suggests they may struggle to drag themselves clear.
Forest have fared little better in recent weeks, taking only one win from nine, although they have suffered only just two defeats during that period.
Saints team news
Morgan Schneiderlin looks set to miss out for Southampton on Saturday.
The midfielder suffered a recurrence of a hamstring injury during last weekend's 3-2 defeat at Burnley and could be facing another spell on the sidelines.
Fellow midfielder Anthony Pulis may be in line for his debut after playing for the reserves in midweek to prove his fitness following a broken foot.
Olly Lancashire (knee) and Simon Gillett (leg) also turned out for the second string to put themselves in contention.
Winger Lee Holmes is back in training following the knee-ligament injury he suffered in September, but Saturday's game will come too soon.
Skipper Michael Svensson (Achilles) and fellow defender Wayne Thomas (knee) remain in the treatment room.
Forest team news
Nottingham Forest boss Colin Calderwood will still be without midfielder Lewis McGugan for the trip to St. Mary's Stadium.
The 20-year-old has missed the last two games with a thigh injury and has been ruled out once again.
But Calderwood is still hopeful that defender Joel Lynch will recover from a calf injury which he sustained in the goalless draw with Blackpool last weekend.
Lynch limped off midway through the first half of the City Ground clash but has returned to training ahead of the weekend activities.
"Lewis will miss out again but we're very hopeful over Joel," Calderwood told the club's
official website.
"He is training and as long as he comes through without any adverse reaction he will be involved."
The only other absentee is midfielder James Perch who will serve a one-match ban after collecting five bookings this season.
