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1. City are second, Bristol are currently third.
2. A win for City would open up a five point gap over Bristol. Defeat would see the Reds move above the Bluebirds.
3. City have won the last 7 games in a row at Ninian Park. Bristol are unbeaten in 15 games. If they make that 16 it's a new record for Danny Wilson.
4. Scott Murray, the Bristol midfielder, has scored 17 goals so far this season. He infamously did the Ayatollah mockingly to City fans when the Reds won at Ninian Park last season.
5. Bristol City's other player to watch is noneother than former Bluebird Christian Roberts.
6. The last time Cardiff won the corresponding fixture on their own turf was in 1971. In 30 league meeting at Ninian Park City have won 11, Bristol 12. 7 have been drawn.
7. Bristol City easily won in the LDV in midweek, we were knocked out.
8. It's a local derby.
9. It's live on Sky in front of several hundred thousand viewers.
There's a few reasons to see why the game is a huge event.
Cardiff have been hit by two major withdrawls. Daniel Gabbidon was hoping to make his return in tomorrows game but he is still ruled out. James Collins, or more likely Fan Zhiyi will start in central defence alongside Spencer Prior. Rhys Weston is suspended. Gary Croft will move to right back and Chris Barker will play left back.
Lennie has another choice to make. Will Jason Bowen start. If he does then City will play 4 - 3 - 1 - 2 but I think Lennie will favour 4 - 4 - 2 so we have solid left hand defence from Chris Barker and Andy Legg in left midfield to keep out Scott Murray.
Therefore I predict the line up to be
Alexander, Croft, Prior, Fan Zhiyi, Barker, Hamilton, Boland, Kavanagh, Legg, Earnie, Thorne. Subs from Margetson, Collins, Bowen, Maxwell, Leo FW, Campbell.
Graham Kavanagh has shaken off his calf injury and will start the game.
Bristol City's Scott Murray is adding to the pre match hype by telling the official BCFC website
"If we go out and pass the ball like we know we are capable of doing, then we have nothing to fear from them. We know it is going to be intimidating and I know that both the majority of the City fans and all of the players' families are not travelling after what happened last season.
"I'm not expecting them to come up and shake my hand, I just hope that everytime I get the ball that they boo me. That will drive me on even more and hopefully, if I can get a goal, I'll have a nice celebration lined up."The game is a 5.35pm kick off because of the live TV coverage. There will be overage in the chat room on this website, internet commentary on the official website and first reaction on the messageboard.
No tickets are on sale on matchday. Away tickets have stopped selling already. 552 Reds will be at Ninian Park. City will sell up until 5pm today.