Birmingham and Middlesbrough will be looking to pull away from the drop zone when the sides meet at St Andrews.
Relegation-threatened duo clash at St Andrews
Birmingham and Middlesbrough will be looking to pull away from the drop zone when the sides go head-to-head at St Andrews.
Both teams enter the game on the back of defeats after Blues lost 3-0 at Bolton while Boro suffered a last-gasp loss at home to West Ham.
Alex McLeish and Garth Southgate's teams have similar records to date - having won just four of their opening 18 league outings - trends they will be keen to reverse.
Changes
McLeish will make changes to the starting XI that lost at The Reebok after admitting individual mistakes cost his side dearly after a solid opening half.
"There will be a reshuffle of the team," he said. "We will look to freshen it up and pull out all the stops to try and get three points."
McLeish has no fresh injury worries to contend with so the likes of Olivier Kapo, Garry O'Connor and Mikael Forssell will all be hoping to start.
Captain Liam Ridgewell is back following a one-match ban and he is likely to make a swift return to McLeish's starting XI alongside defender Johan Djourou.
Confidence
Southgate's main priority will be restoring confidence quickly following their last-gasp and heartbreaking defeat to The Hammers at The Riverside.
The Teessiders secured a first-half lead through rising star David Wheater, but emerged with nothing thanks to Scott Parker's last-gasp strike.
Southgate, unlike McLeish, has a busy treatment room with the likes of Gary O'Neil (hamstring), Andrew Taylor (foot), Chris Riggott (calf) and Mido (groin) all out of the trip to St Andrews.
Lee Cattermole and Robert Huth could be drafted in after both emerged from the bench at the weekend, especially with Jonathan Woodgate struggling with cramp.
Southgate also has Fabio Rochemback back after suspension.
