Cardiff v Peterborough. Match preview

Last updated : 15 December 2012 By Michael Morris

Tommy Smith is set for a return to Cardiff's squad as they prepare to host bottom-placed Peterborough.

The former Watford midfielder has missed the last nine games with a hamstring injury, but is hoping to be included in Malky Mackay's squad to face Posh.

A lengthy injury list, which had deprived Mackay of a number of first-team players in November, has now been all-but cleared, and with an in-form squad, the npower Championship leaders will be looking to continue their perfect home form against Darren Ferguson's men.

Mackay will be without defender Mark Hudson due to suspension however, with Matthew Connolly expected to play alongside Ben Turner in the heart of the defence.

Kevin McNaughton will be Connolly's first-choice replacement at right-back, while midfield playmaker Peter Whittingham is expected to take Hudson's captain's armband.

Jordan Mutch returns after missing the 4-1 victory at Blackburn through suspension, meaning Nicky Maynard, ruled out for the season with a knee injury, is the only long-term absentee.

Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson, meanwhile, remains without a trio of key players ahead of Saturday's trip to the league leaders.

Defenders Kgosi Ntlhe and Peter Grant (knee) both remain long-term absentees while loanee Saido Berahino's recent return to West Brom leaves Ferguson short of attacking options.

Fellow striker Tyrone Barnett returned to London Road earlier this week but is ruled out for up to three months after suffering a serious knee injury while on loan at Ipswich.

Ferguson was unable to name a recognised striker on the bench for last weekend's defeat to Middlesbrough as the division's bottom club suffered a third straight defeat.

But the Posh chief insists his side head to Wales looking to secure all three points.

"We'll go there and play the same way - we'll go and try to win the game," he told the club's official website.

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