Cardiff will be looking to close the gap on the top two with a win at Scunthorpe on Saturday.
Duo out for Iron while Rae suffers further injury heartache for City
Promotion hopefuls Cardiff will be looking to close the gap on the top two with a win at lowly Scunthorpe on Saturday.
The Bluebirds have failed to win any of their last three Championship games allowing leaders Newcastle and second placed Nottingham Forest to edge clear at the top.
Meanwhile Scunthorpe have lost just twice in their last seven league games, taking them up to 19th in the table.
However the Iron are still just five points from the relegation places and will be hoping to build on their impressive 4-1 away win at Derby last time out.
Iron news
Scunthorpe boss Nigel Adkins looks set to be without Rob Jones and Josh Wright for the clash.
Skipper Jones is still struggling with the hamstring injury that kept him out of last weekend's thrashing of Derby, so Cliff Byrne and David Mirfin are expected to continue their central-defensive partnership.
Midfielder Wright has not trained this week due to illness and is almost certain to miss out, with Grant McCann expected to replace him after returning from a two-match suspension.
Goalkeeper Joe Murphy returned to training this week after missing the last two matches with a shoulder problem, but even if he is passed fit Josh Lillis could get the nod ahead of him after impressing in the Iron No.1's absence.
Defender Kenny Milne will definitely not feature as the defender is experiencing more discomfort in his knee.
City news
Gavin Rae will face more time on the sidelines after limping out of Tuesday's FA Cup third-round tie at Bristol City nursing a tight hamstring just days after recovering from a broken hand.
Striker Jay Bothroyd (illness) and winger Chris Burke (rib) both missed the 1-1 draw at Ashton Gate but manager Dave Jones will be hoping to have them both available for the visit to Glanford Park.
Ross McCormack has been struggling with the same virus that has struck down fellow striker Bothroyd but he has battled through, while Joe Ledley continues to play on despite his troubling hip injury.
Young striker Josh Magennis is hoping to return to training towards the end of February after sustaining a broken fibula in last weekend's 1-1 draw against Blackpool.
Solomon Taiwo will be available after Jones temporarily put the brakes on his loan move to Colchester, while Kelvin Etuhu is back in South Wales having received treatment on an ankle problem at parent club Manchester City.
