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Barnsley (22nd) v Plymouth (7th)

Stephen Foster and Anderson de Silva are both expected to go straight into Barnsley's starting line-up - but Tykes skipper Paul Reid is suspended. Manager Simon Davey must decide whether to stick with new goalkeeper Heinz Muller or recall Nick Colgan.

Pilgrims boss Ian Holloway is set to name an unchanged side. Midfielders Akos Buzsaky and Peter Halmosi are set to figure following their substitute run-outs for Hungary in midweek. Midfielder Paul Wotton (knee) and Bojan Djordic (heel) have made comebacks for the reserves but are still short of match fitness.

Last season: Plymouth 2 Barnsley 4, Barnsley 2 Plymouth 2

Last five league matches: Barnsley W L L L D; Plymouth W W W W D

Top scorers: Kim Christensen & Brian Howard (Barnsley) 3; Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (Plymouth) 2

Referee: Barry Knight (Kent)

Bristol City (15th) v Scunthorpe (6th)

City midfielder Lee Johnson is 50-50 with a knee injury, while defender Jamie McCombe (shin) and striker Steve Brooker (knee) are closing in on returns after midweek action for the reserves. David Noble's absence may be prolonged after he was sent for another scan on a groin injury. Ivan Sproule is suspended.

On-loan Chelsea defender Jack Cork is included in Scunthorpe's squad - but Izzy Iriekpen is a major doubt with groin trouble, so Andy Butler is on stand-by. Iriekpen apart, manager Nigel Adkins is expected to name the same side that secured Scunthorpe their first Championship win over Burnley last weekend.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Bristol City W L W D D; Scunthorpe W L W D W

Top scorers: Scott Murray & Phil Jevons (Bristol City) 2; Martin Paterson (Scunthorpe) 2

Referee: Michael Jones (Cheshire)

Burnley (13th v QPR (20th)

Clarets striker Kyle Lafferty is pushing for a place in the starting line-up after netting his first competitive goal for Northern Ireland in their 3-1 victory over Liechtenstein at Windsor Park on Wednesday. Skipper Steve Caldwell may again be missing due to a hamstring injury.

QPR are poised to hand a debut to Chris Barker, who is now free of suspension. Defensive duo Marcus Bignot and Danny Cullip may figure after coming through a midweek reserve game unscathed but Rangers are still without Pat Kanyuka (thigh), Gareth Ainsworth (ankle) and Ray Jones (foot).

Last season: QPR 3 Burnley 1, Burnley 2 QPR 0

Last five league matches: Burnley W L L W L; QPR W L D D L

Top scorers: Andy Gray (Burnley) 2; Dexter Blackstock, Damion Stewart & Martin Rowlands (QPR) 1

Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)

Cardiff (12th) v Coventry (4th)

Cardiff boss Dave Jones is set to hand debuts to strike duo Robbie Fowler and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink when Coventry visit Ninian Park. Jones has included the pair in his squad to face the Sky Blues, leaving former Aston Villa midfielder Ricky Scimeca as the only injury absentee.

Midfielder Stephen Hughes could make his first start of the season for Coventry. But veteran midfielder Michael Hughes is struggling with a thigh strain. Captain Arjan De Zeeuw is still out with medial knee ligament damage. Experienced central defender Robert Page is doubtful because of a minor knock, and fellow defender David McNamee is ruled out with a calf injury. Colin Hawkins is also sidelined with a groin strain.

Last season: Coventry 2 Cardiff 2, Cardiff 1 Coventry 0

Last five league matches: Cardiff L L L L W; Coventry L L W W D

Top scorers: Paul Parry (Cardiff) 2; Leon McKenzie (Coventry) 2

Referee: Rob Shoebridge (Derbyshire)

Charlton (17th) v Sheff Wed (24th)

Charlton are without Yassin Moutaouakil for up to five weeks with ankle ligament damage - Jose Semedo may replace him, although Jonathan Fortune provides an alternative. Zheng Zhi is in contention for his first appearance since joining permanently but new striker Luke Varney (ankle) is still missing, while midfield stalwart Matt Holland remains a long-term absentee following a cartilage operation.

Francis Jeffers is out with a calf strain. Leon Clarke replaced Jeffers last week but may start on the substitutes' bench again, with Marcus Tudgay, expected to recover from a shoulder injury. Midfielder Glenn Whelan is on course to recover from the groin strain, and defender Steve Watson (stomach) is hoping to pass a late fitness test.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Charlton L L D D L; Sheff Wed W L W L L

Top scorers: Andy Reid (Charlton) 2; Wade Small (Sheff Wed) 2

Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire)

Hull (16th) v Norwich (9th)

Hull boss Phil Brown will be without suspended defender Sam Ricketts - Nathan Doyle or Danny Coles are expected to deputise at right-back.

Norwich midfielders Mark Fotheringham (ankle), Simon Lappin (thigh) and Julien Brellier (stiffness) are struggling for fitness. Luke Chadwick is in line for a recall after recovering from a bug which ruled him out of the reserves' 4-0 win over Luton in midweek while Darren Huckerby has an outside chance of making the bench after groin trouble.

Last season: Hull 1 Norwich 2, Norwich 1 Hull 1

Last five league matches: Hull D W L L D; Norwich D L L D W

Top scorers: Stephen McPhee, Nick Barmby, Richard Garcia, Dean Marney, Dean Windass & Michael Bridges (Hull) 1; Jamie Cureton (Norwich) 4

Referee: Nigel Miller (Durham)

Leicester (18th) v Watford (2nd)

Carl Cort could be set for his Leicester debut after hamstring trouble, while James Chambers is fit again following a calf injury. Iain Hume, Marton Fulop, Gareth McAuley and Radostin Kishishev have returned unscathed from international duty with their respective countries. But Darren Kenton (ribs) and Jonathan Hayes (thigh) are doubtful while Elvis Hammond (ankle) will not be included.

Watford forward Darius Henderson, the subject of a £1.5million bid from Fulham, has a knock which could keep him out of the match. Goalkeeper Mart Poom, defenders Dan Shittu and Jay DeMerit and forward Tamas Priskin were on international duty during the week, and their fitness will be assessed before the game.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Leicester W W L L D; Watford L W D W W

Top scorers: Patrick Kisnorbo, Dudley Campbell & James Wesolowski (Leicester) 1; Marlon King, Alex Campana, Tamas Priskin, Lee Williamson, Douglas Rinaldi & Jordan Stewart (Watford) 1

Referee: Anthony Taylor (Greater Manchester)

Preston (21st) v Colchester (14th)

Preston striker Patrick Agyemang played 45 minutes for the reserves at Rochdale in midweek after missing the opening three games with a knee injury. He should feature although boss Paul Simpson will check on fellow frontman Brett Ormerod, who is nursing a knee complaint.

Colchester goalkeeper Dean Gerken is suspended so manager Geraint Williams will choose between 39-year-old Aidan Davison and youngster Mark Cousins. Midfielder Kevin Watson (Achilles) and striker Jamie Guy (thigh) are on the mend but the trip to Deepdale will probably come too soon, striker Clive Platt is suspended, while midfielder Kevin McLeod is 50-50 with a groin injury.

Last season: Colchester 1 Preston 0, Preston 1 Colchester 0

Last five league matches: Preston L L W D L; Colchester W L L D D

Top scorers: Danny Pugh (Preston) 1; Clive Platt, Kevin McLeod, Teddy Sheringham & Matthew Connolly (Colchester) 1

Referee: Steve Tanner (Somerset)

Sheff Utd (19th) v West Brom (11th)

Billy Sharp is back in contention for Sheffield United after recovering from a broken hand sustained in pre-season. But fellow summer signings Lee Hendrie and Gary Naysmith are still sidelined by knee injuries. Australian winger Dave Carney, is working on his match fitness and is not likely to be included.

West Brom duo Ishmael Miller and James Morrison have returned to the reckoning after respective groin and hamstring problems, while midfielder Richard Chaplow has also been pencilled in for the game after recovering from a foot injury. An eye injury means Robert Koren will be absent once more, Curtis Davies has hamstring trouble, while Chris Brunt is suspended.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Sheff Utd W L L D L; West Brom L W W L W

Top scorers: Jonathan Stead (Sheff Utd) 2; Kevin Phillips (West Brom) 2

Referee: Colin Webster (Tyne & Wear)

Southampton (23rd) v Stoke (1st)

Saints welcome back centre-half Darren Powell from suspension and he may partner new signing Wayne Thomas, with Chris Makin struggling with a slight hamstring strain. Captain Claus Lundekvam is making good progress following his ankle injury and is expected to begin light training next week, while Inigo Idiakez has recovered from hamstring trouble, although the veteran Spaniard is short of match fitness.

Stoke captain Danny Higginbotham is doubtful with an ankle injury - Ryan Shawcross and Jody Craddock will continue their partnership in defence if he is unable to feature. Lewis Buxton is set to start at right-back in place of Stephen Wright, who could be out for up to two months with an ankle injury. Clint Hill is suspension-free and Marlon Broomes may figure after a long-term Achilles injury.

Last season: Stoke 2 Southampton 1, Southampton 1 Stoke 0

Last five league matches: Southampton W W W L L; Stoke D W D W W

Top scorers: Kenwyne Jones, Grzegorz Rasiak & Marek Saganowski (Southampton) 1; Ryan Shawcross (Stoke) 2

Referee: Richard Beeby (Northamptonshire)

Wolves (10th) v Blackpool (8th)

Wolves striker Freddy Eastwood will face a late fitness test after complaining of a groin problem sustained on international duty with Wales in midweek. Gary Breen will play despite a cut eyebrow sustained at Sheffield Wednesday - but fellow defender Charlie Mulgrew (ankle) remains on the casualty list while winger Matt Jarvis (thigh) and Mark Davies (knee surgery) will not figure.

Ian Evatt is Blackpool's only doubt, with a hamstring injury. If Evatt is ruled unfit, Latvia international Kaspar Gorkss is likely to continue alongside Michael Jackson.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Wolves L W W L W; Blackpool W W W W D

Top scorers: Freddy Eastwood (Wolves) 2; Keith Southern, Andrew Morrell & Ben Burgess (Blackpool) 1

Referee: Trevor Kettle (Rutland)

Ipswich (5th) v Crystal Palace (3rd)

Ipswich defender Fabian Wilnis is banned, while Richard Naylor is not expected to return for another two months after toe surgery on cartilage damage. Gavin Williams (ankle) remains sidelined and although striker Dean Bowditch is close to a return following groin surgery, he will not be risked.

Defender Jeff Hughes, midfielder Carl Fletcher and winger Paul Ifill could all make their first appearances of the campaign for Palace after niggling injuries - but key midfielder Ben Watson could be out for six weeks with damaged ankle ligaments.

Last season: Crystal Palace 2 Ipswich 0, Ipswich 1 Crystal Palace 2

Last five league matches: Ipswich D D W W D; Crystal Palace L W W W D

Top scorers: Alan Lee (Ipswich) 4; James Scowcroft (Crystal Palace) 3

Referee: Andy D'Urso (Essex)

SportingLife / Eurosport