Middlesbrough face a tough test as they welcome Cardiff City to the Riverside Stadium.

The Teessiders are in a thoroughly inconsistent spell with back-to-back victories over Huddersfield Town and Reading being followed up by a comprehensive defeat against Bristol City.

With supporters losing faith in the battle to secure a play-off spot it means that Neil Warnock must do everything that he can to ensure that the team pick up three points against the Bluebirds.

But what are the decisions that he must make ahead of the game? We take a look.

Replacing Marcus Bettinelli

He may be on loan from Fulham but there's no doubt that Marcus Bettinelli has struggled of late.

A series of mistakes and misjudgements in recent weeks have proved costly for Middlesbrough who have looked like a cheap imitation of the defensively sound outfit that they were earlier in the season.

He's not a bad goalkeeper but maybe allowing Jordan Archer to start the game could be the perfect solution to take Bettinelli out of the firing line and give Archer a chance to shine.

Squad rotation

Neil Warnock loves keeping a consistent side but maybe it's time to ring the changes.

The likes of Grant Hall, Hayden Coulson, Djed Spence, George Saville and Marvin Johnson are all first team players who have struggled for game time of late and they'll be chomping at the bit to be involved.

They might not be his trusted soldiers in comparison to his usual suspects but maybe changing things around is what the team need.

Attacking woes

The injury to Ashley Fletcher is a massive blow for Middlesbrough.

He's certainly proven himself as the club's best striker and that's why his absence will be felt for sure.

Chuba Akpom and Britt Assombalonga just don't seem to be at the races right now and while one of them are likely to start in attack it's hardly an offensive unit to strike fear into their opponents.