As Mick McCarthy's Ipswich Town prepare for their first home game of the season, there's already a feeling around Portman Road that Saturday's visit of Millwall is a must-win match.
An unbeaten pre-season, matched with shrewd signings by McCarthy, meant Ipswich's fans began the new campaign with plenty of optimism. That balloon full of hope will well and truly be popped if the Lions leave Suffolk with all three points.
An opening-day defeat at promotion favourites Reading has since been followed by a tame exit in the Capital One Cup to Stevenage and a return to their home ground should help the Tractor Boys find their feet.
McCarthy has problems all the way up the left side with left-backs Aaron Cresswell and Tyrone Mings injured along with midfielders Anthony Wordsworth and Jay Tabb, who scored against former club Reading but came off with a rib injury against Stevenage.
Tommy Smith had to slide over to left-back at the Lamex and the Kiwi international might have to do the same again, while Paul Anderson may get the nod to take Tabb's place in midfield.
Visiting Millwall were able to progress in the League Cup, as Steve Lomas picked up his first win as a manager in England against AFC Wimbledon.
The league campaign didn't begin perfectly as newly-promoted Yeovil, favourites for the drop, came to East London and left with the points thanks to Ed Upson's late winner.
New signing Scott McDonald is yet to start for the Lions and he could make his full debut in place of Andy Keogh at Portman Road.
Between the sticks, David Forde remains out injured so Stephen Bywater, who made 17 appearances for Ipswich on loan in 2008, will continue with the gloves.
In the same fixture between these sides last season, Ipswich came out on top 3-0 in December.
Recent form
Ipswich: LL
Millwall: LW
Possible starting lineups
Ipswich: Loach; Hewitt, Chambers, Berra, Smith; Edwards, Skuse, Hyam, Anderson; Murphy, McGoldrick
Millwall: Bywater; Dunne, Shittu, Beevers, Lowry; Henry, Wright, Abdou, Chaplow; McDonald, Morison
Sports Mole says: 2-0
No Data Analysis info
