English Premier League champions Manchester City will look to close the gap on league leaders Manchester United to two points when they travel to bottom club Queens Park Rangers Tuesday.
City decreased the lead on United in the last round of fixtures after the latter fell to a late draw against Tottenham. With the Red Devils only scheduled to play Wednesday, against Southampton, City can pile on the pressure with all three points.
However, a win will be easier said than done, despite City being the far superior team on paper. QPR are as, if not more, desperate for points as they continue to struggle to get themselves off the bottom of the table, a place they have been in for most of the season.
QPR manager Harry Redknapp is hoping to spring a surprise at Loftus Road, with the backing of the home crowd. "You just never know where your results are going to come from," Redknapp told the club's official website. "Who would have given us a chance at Chelsea?
"You only have to look at the FA Cup games this weekend to see what you can achieve if you give effort. It's unpredictable.
"It will be a tough game tomorrow, but I'm looking forward to it, it should be an interesting game.
"They're strong and they've got a fantastic squad of players. But we've had some hard games lately at Chelsea, against Tottenham and West Ham away.
"They were difficult games but we performed well and we've got to do the same (against City)."
QPR will be boosted by the news that City's skipper and rock at the back Vincent Kompany will miss the game with the central defender pulling his calf muscle in the F.A. Cup victory over Stoke at the weekend.
City are facing a bit of a defender crisis, with Matija Nastasic also a doubt, while Kolo Toure is on Africa Cup of Nations duty with Ivory Coast.
Assistant manager David Platt said the team were hopeful of Nastasic being passed fit, otherwise they might play with midfielder Javi Garcia in defense or go for three at the back.
"He (Nastasic) has an inflamed ligament," Platt said. "There is no danger in it at all but we have to wait for the inflammation to work itself out.
"He has got better every single day and travelled with us to Stoke, but it was a case of not running the risk. Had the game been on Wednesday he would have had a lot better chance than he has now -- but he still has a chance.
"Our options are Garcia, who went slipped into there on Saturday, Karim Rekik, Matija if he is fit, or we can go to a three."
QPR will be without Samba Diakite, while Shaun Wright-Phillips, Bobby Zamora and Junior Hoilett are doubtful.
Expected lineups: QPR: Cesar; Onuoha, Nelsen, Hill, Fabio; Derry, Mbia; Mackie, Taarabt, Wright-Phillips; Remy.
Manchester City: Hart; Zabaleta, Nastasic, Lescott, Clichy; Garcia, Barry; Milner, Silva, Tevez; Aguero.
Prediction: 2-1 to City
