Hull City travel to Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon knowing that defeat would give rise to increasing concerns that relegation looms for Steve Bruce's side.
They sit outside the danger zone on goal difference but, with no wins from their last six games, another setback would surely dampen the already-gloomy mood in the camp.
Crystal Palace
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With five games left in the Premier League season, fans of most teams would want to see their side competing for something positive as the campaign draws to a close.
By virtue of the fact that relegation was on the cards in a season rife with instability, though, Crystal Palace supporters can have no such complaints as their side sit 11th in the table with five more dead rubbers left on the calendar.
It has been a season of two halves for Palace, who were rocked by Tony Pulis's sudden departure a matter of days before their Premier League campaign began. His successor Neil Warnock did little to steady the ship, with the Eagles sitting 18th at the time of his dismissal on December 27.
Fast forward four months and Alan Pardew, who spent four years at Selhurst Park as a player, has proven the messiah that his former club needed him to be as the Londoners sit 14 points clear of danger, with only 15 left on offer for the bottom three.
The former Newcastle United boss kicked off his managerial career at Palace with a 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur, before beating relegation rivals Burnley 3-2 at Turf Moor to alleviate fears of dropping into the Championship.
Since then, Pardew has guided them to six wins - including a victory over reigning champions Manchester City - four defeats and one draw in a run of form that has given the fans a licence to dream about the 2015-16 campaign.
Last week's 2-0 defeat to West Bromwich Albion ended a four-game winning streak but it was a loss that they could afford, and another setback on Saturday would not be detrimental to their season either by virtue of Pardew's impact.
This game might have looked like a relegation six-pointer back in December in a contest that could have determined who stays in the division but, much to the delight of the home fans, it is now only a must-win game for one of them.
Recent form: LWWWWL
Hull City
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With only goal difference separating them from the bottom three, coupled with the fact that they meet Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United in their last six games, it would not be an exaggeration to suggest that Hull City's season hinges on beating Crystal Palace.
Together with a home clash against relegation rivals Burnley on May 9, Saturday's trip to Selhurst Park is arguably one of the Tigers' easier fixtures left in the calendar and dropping points is not an option for Bruce and co.
The writing has been on the wall for much of the season, but Bruce has been unable to inspire his charges to the victories needed to avoid such a precarious position.
Unlike their London counterparts, it has not been a season of two halves for Hull, who have picked up just three wins either side of the new year in a run of form that will have few surprised to learn that relegation is very much on the cards.
Four points separated them from danger in February after securing back-to-back wins over Aston Villa and Queens Park Rangers, but it appears to have proven a false dawn of sorts, with the Tigers losing four and drawing two of their subsequent six.
They have had the luxury of a two-week break to assess their survival hopes due to Liverpool's involvement in the FA Cup last week, but it remains to be seen if even that is enough to breathe new life into a survival bid that may just flatline if they lose on Saturday.
Recent form: LDDLLL
Team News
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Lee Chung-yong could return to the dugout as he bids to make his long-awaited debut after injury curtailed his progress since making a January move from Bolton Wanderers.
Marouane Chamakh and ex-Hull hitman Fraizer Campbell remain sidelined with hamstring injuries, with Jordan Much and Jerome Thomas also doubts.
For Hull, David Meyler serves the second of a three-match ban, while Curtis Davies and Nikica Jelavic are also out with thigh and knee injuries respectively.
Gaston Ramirez could be involved, as could Mohamad Diame as he bids for a first start since December following a knee problem.
Crystal Palace possible starting lineup:
Speroni; Dann, Delaney, Souare, Ward; Bolasie, Jedinak, McArthur, Puncheon, Zaha; Murray
Hull City possible starting lineup:
Harper; Bruce, Chester, Dawson, McShane; Diame, Elmohamady, Huddlestone, Livermore; Aluko, N'Doye
Head To Head
Hull won the reverse fixture 2-0 to curtail Palace's dominance in this fixture, with that victory representing their first in eight against the Londoners.
Prior to that, the visitors had lost four and drawn four following a 2-1 Championship win back in 2008.
We say: Crystal Palace 2-0 Hull City
Despite Hull winning the previous meeting this season, it was against a Palace team still struggling under the stewardship of Warnock and we think Saturday's hosts will put things right with a comfortable win at Selhurst Park.
Shane Callaghan
