Leeds United travel to London to play Fulham in the Premier League on Friday evening knowing they will face a tough test.
Fulham are 18th in the Premier League - 10 points below Leeds - and currently occupy the final relegation place, but their form is not befitting of their position.
Scott Parker’s side have impressed in patches since the turn of the year, giving them real hope of climbing out of the relegation zone.
Despite losing 3-0 last time out against Manchester City, Fulham are just two points adrift of Newcastle United and safety.
If they are to avoid the drop then Parker will be targeting an improvement on their home form, with only two wins and four draws taken at Craven Cottage so far this season.
The home side will be hoping to replicate the performance in their 1-0 win over Liverpool on March 7, which saw Mario Lemina’s strike earn three points at Anfield.
Fulham’s upturn in form recently has coincided with consistent team selection by Parker, with goalkeeper Alphonse Areola and centre-backs Joachim Andersen and Tosin Adarabioyo forming the backbone of their side.
Parker has been able to pick from his entire squad of late, with few injuries currently troubling the Cottagers.
At present Fulham have just three injury concerns heading into Friday’s 8pm kick-off at Craven Cottage.
Back-up goalkeeper Marek Rodak is out with a finger injury, while Tom Cairney and Bobby Decordova-Reid are doubts.
Club captain Cairney has not played since December 19 due to a persistent knee injury which was originally picked up in a pre-season friendly against MK Dons.
However, the midfielder recently returned to training after overcoming a minor setback and is working his way back gradually to full fitness.
“Tom is back training with us, but not (ready) for the weekend I would have thought,” Parker said before Fulham’s defeat by Man City.
“He might need a game to get some football because he’s been out for a long time now.”
Meanwhile, Decordova-Reid was an unexplained absence from the Man City game, having played and impressed in the 1-0 win over Liverpool.
Parker described the forward, who has been playing in a right-sided midfield role recently, as “physically incredible” after that match and Decordova-Reid’s absence from the squad on Saturday is thought to be because of a personal issue.
That means he could return for Friday’s match against Leeds, with Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Ivan Cavaleiro’s places in the starting XI possibly at risk.
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Leeds have injury concerns of their own, with Patrick Bamford being assessed this week after limping out of the 0-0 draw with Chelsea.
Liam Cooper was a surprise absence from the matchday squad on the weekend due an unspecified illness, while Adam Forshaw, Pablo Hernandez and Robin Koch are not fully fit yet.
Koch played 45 minutes for the Under-23 side alongside Ian Poveda and Gaetano Berardi on Monday, but is unlikely to be rushed back after spending three months out with a knee injury.
