Hull City welcome a revived Bristol City side to the KC Stadium today, desperately needing maximum points if they want to keep their automatic promotion hopes alive.

The Tigers firmly remain in the hunt for the top two, but a slump of form has seen them slide from the top of the table into fourth place.

Steve Bruce’s side have not recorded a victory since the end of February, when they beat Ipswich Town 1-0.

They have now gone five games without a win, and need to change that today against a reignited Bristol City side under the reign of Lee Johnson.

The Robins thrashed Bolton Wanderers 6-0 before the international break, and will be hoping to replicate a similar performance today.

Johnson’s side are still not out of trouble and need to pick up points wherever possible, but they have certainly given themselves a fighting chance of remaining in the Sky Bet Championship.

FootballLeagueWorld writer Ashley Williams identifies THREE things to look out for in this afternoon's encounter...

1) Can Bristol City secure three wins on the bounce?

Since the arrival of Johnson, the club have looked a completely different side; they are playing with confidence and are looking likely to escape the drop.

The Robins manager has also brought in quality signings, with the likes of Peter Odemwingie, Adam Matthews and Lee Tomlin becoming an instant impact at Ashton Gate.

The KC Stadium will be a hard to place to go, but the Robins will believe that they can come away with something against a stuttering Hull side.

I think three wins from their last eight matches should be enough to keep them in the division.

2) Are Hull beginning to crumble under pressure?

The gap to the Championship's top two is not too large with nine games left, but a faltering run requires the Tigers to deliver reasons to believe again.

Bruce's men need a win like never before this season, and a run of three points from the last five games shows worrying signs within the squad.

Without finding a first victory since February 23, it would be impossible not to fear for their automatic promotion hopes.

Even a fifth consecutive draw at the KC would surely be deemed insufficient. The Tigers have to recapture the dominance that was so often the norm on home soil.

Bristol City will not be a pushover, but Bruce's men must show themselves to be better than a side occupying 19th spot in the division. No matter how it comes, City have to finally claim a 20th league win of this season.

It's now or never if the campaign is to end with a top-two finish.

3) Return of Korey Smith

Bristol City could have midfielder Korey Smith back, who has been out with an ankle injury for five weeks.

Smith had been given a deadline till Thursday to prove that he was match-fit, and he will be determined to get back into a side that is on a high at the moment.

In Smith's absence, Joe Bryan has been deployed in a central midfield role alongside Marlon Pack, a combination that has helped City win three of their last five outings to move six points clear of the relegation zone.

However, Smith is a key figure, and Johnson is keeping his fingers crossed in the hope his vice-captain will be available for the run-in.

Hull and Bristol City fans... What do you think the score will be tomorroww? Do Hull need to win to get their top two ambitions back on track? Can Bristol City make it three consecutive victories? Let us know your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!