Manchester City's season is in danger of falling apart ahead of their trip to Queens Park Rangers on Saturday.
The Citizens choked in Europe again in midweek as CSKA Moscow won 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium to put them on the brink of Champions League elimination.
Fernandinho and Yaya Toure were sent off in the second half at Eastlands as City frustrations boiled over following a run of only one win from five games in all competitions - their Manchester derby success last weekend.
Their European future hangs in the balance, they have been knocked out of the Capital One Cup, and Manuel Pellegrini's side could also be nine points behind Premier League leaders Chelsea by the time that they visit Loftus Road.
Still, they are in a better position than QPR, who are in the relegation zone having only won twice in 10 games since gaining promotion back to the top flight at the first attempt, via the Championship playoffs.
However, there are signs that the Hoops are gradually improving, having pushed Liverpool and Chelsea all the way in recent narrow defeats which sandwiched a 2-0 victory over fellow strugglers Aston Villa.
Harry Redknapp's return to predominantly using a 4-4-2 formation has been a key factor in their upturn, with Bobby Zamora's support play helping Charlie Austin to three goals in his last two outings.
Zamora was dropped at Stamford Bridge as Redknapp reinforced his midfield, but the Hoops boss could gamble with two up top now that they are back at home as he senses that the Citizens are low on confidence.
Junior Hoilett is the most likely midfielder to be sacrificed in what could otherwise be an unchanged lineup. Jordan Mutch, Joey Barton, Alejandro Faurlin, Nedum Onuoha, and Alex McCarthy are all still out injured, while Rio Ferdinand again serves his suspension for a Football Association charge.
The visitors are without Aleksander Kolarov and the badly-missed David Silva, while Frank Lampard will undergo a late fitness test to decide whether or not he will feature against his uncle's side.
Following two substitute appearances, Samir Nasri should be ready for a starting role and will likely replace the underperforming Jesus Navas, while Martin Demichelis may again get the nod over Eliaquim Mangala.
Edin Dzeko could be recalled as strike partner to Sergio Aguero, who was described by Redknapp this week as the best player in the Premier League. Toure and Fernandinho's bans do not apply to domestic games.
City are unbeaten in their last five matches against Rangers in all competitions - the most famous of which was the dramatic final-day 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium which clinched them the title in 2012.
Recent form
QPR: LWLLLD
Man City: LWLLDW
Possible starting lineups
QPR: Green; Isla, Caulker, Dunne, Yun; Fer, Sandro, Henry, Vargas; Zamora, Austin
Man City: Hart; Zabaleta, Kompany, Demichelis, Clichy; Milner, Fernando, Toure, Nasri; Dzeko, Aguero
Sports Mole says: 2-2
Joe Fish
