Cardiff City welcome Brighton and Hove Albion in the early kick off at the Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday afternoon looking to put themselves back in the frame for a play off position.
The Bluebirds are unbeaten in their last 5 games, but have picked up 3 draws in that run.
The South Wales side will need to turn those draws into wins, but face a Brighton side that have won 4 out of their last 5 games, and are looking to jump into the top two in the Championship.
Brighton look a completely different side in the New Year that saw them go seven games without a win through November and December.
The Seagull’s poor form saw them slide down the table and almost slip out of the top six.
This is a big game for both clubs has a win for Cardiff would see them back in the frame for the play offs - if the sides around them slip up.
Brighton will be in the driving seat, if they pick up a victory over the Welsh side and will go level on points with top of the table Hull City.
Football League World Writer, Ashley Williams identifies THREE things to look out for in the game:
1) Can Cardiff break their goal-scoring drought?
The club have drawn a blank in their previous two Championship fixtures securing 0-0 draws with struggling sides MK Dons and Charlton.
The club have struggled for strikers all season and selling Kenwyne Jones and Joe Mason has deepened their striking problems.
Slade will have high anxiety levels against a Brighton side who taken a positive turn after their end of year slump in form.
Anthony Pilkington and Tom Lawrence have started in the attacking roles recently, but have failed to deliver and will turn to new signings Lex Immers or Kenneth Zohore to try and break their drought.
2) Can Brighton break into the top two?
The Seagulls are putting real pressure on Middlesbrough who have been replicating Brighton’s form during November and December.
Boro are without a win in five Championship matches – while Brighton are unbeaten in their last five game, winning four.
Chris Hughton will be expecting his side to all out in their game in South Wales, as there will be no room for mistakes in the final moments of the season.
A win for Brighton would see them leapfrog Boro into 2nd place and go joint top with Hull as both sides are not playing this week.
The club’s pursuit of an automatic place will be in their own hands if they secure 3 points at the weekend.
3) Slade faces his former club
Cardiff City manager will face his former side Brighton for the second time since he left the club seven years ago.
Slade was appointed manager of the struggling Brighton side until the end of the season in 2009, and succeeded in ensuring they avoided relegation from League One.
Following that remarkable achievement in May 2009, Slade signed a further two-year contract at Brighton.
Helping the Seagulls achieve their survival in League One really ignited his managerial career and he will have fond memories during his time on the South Coast.
Cardiff and Brighton fans… Score predictions? Who needs the points most? Are you going to the game? Let us know in your thoughts and opinions below!