Leicester v Cardiff

Last updated : 12 March 2010 By BBC Sport

First-choice Leicester goalkeeper Chris Weale will be fit despite needing five stitches in his nose following a collision against Sheffield Wednesday.Foxes boss Nigel Pearson is expected to include James Vaughan in his squad after signing the Everton striker on a month`s loan.

Cardiff trio Peter Whittingham (groin), Mark Kennedy (calf) and Stephen McPhail (rib) are hoping to return.

Michael Chopra is banned after picking up his 10th booking of the season.

MATCH PREVIEW

Three of Leicester's next four matches are at home, giving them an excellent chance to pull away from the teams below them and cement a play-off place in their first season back in the Championship.

The team immediately below them is troubled Cardiff, who are sixth and have won only one of their last six matches.

Leicester are unbeaten in seven at the Walkers Stadium and have won their last two there, collecting 15 out of a possible 21 points on their own patch.

That kind of form should secure them a top-six finish, whereas Cardiff are trying to avoid the kind of late-season slump that has cost them in the past. They have won seven away games this season but have lost their last three on the road.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• This is the 50th competitive meeting of Leicester and Cardiff. The first was in November 1920.

Have your say on this match

• Each have won 19 of the previous 49 matches, with 11 drawn.

Leicester

• Last Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday ended Leicester's eight-match unbeaten league run.

• The Foxes have conceded fewer goals in the last 10 minutes of Championship games this season than any other club (three).

• Defender Jack Hobbs is set to make his 100th club career appearance.

Cardiff

• Cardiff are in danger of tumbling to four successive away league defeats for the first time since the end of the 2006/07 season.

• The Bluebirds have scored 31 away goals in the Championship this season. Only West Brom have netted more.

• They are the division's top first-half scorers; 33 of their 57 goals have come before the break.

MOST RECENT MEETING

Cardiff 0-1 Leicester (1 March 2008)

Leicester scorer: Purse (og) 27.

Source: BBC Sport

Source: BBC Sport