A point at Birmingham City helped to stop the rot after three consecutive league defeats for the first time this season, but Huddersfield Town face a stern examination this evening when Norwich City arrive at the John Smith's Stadium.

Chris Powell's side were good value for their 1-1 draw at St Andrew's on Saturday as they avoided an unwanted record of becoming the first Town side since the relegated 2000/2001 team to lose four straight league games.

But they have won just one of their last five at home - that 3-0 triumph over FA Cup semi-finalists Reading - and face a Norwich City side who boast the joint-best record over the last six games having taken 13 points from a possible 18.

The Terriers went down 5-0 in the previous meeting and, albeit in rather mitigating circumstances after Murray Wallace's early red card, the Canaries tore through Powell's men at will to inflict his heaviest defeat as Town manager.

So this will be a revenge mission for the Terriers as much as a game for them to boost their hopes of survival with the gap between themselves and 22nd-placed Wigan Athletic now standing at just nine points.

Here are the three key battles we have selected where tonight's game could be won and lost.

Tommy Smith v Bradley Johnson

Tommy Smith v Bradley Johnson

Having been given a long afternoon's work by the speed, trickery and movement of Birmingham starlet Demarai Gray, Smith faces an altogether different test here against the Canaries chief goalscorer from midfield.

On Saturday, Smith was far more restricted in his efforts to get upfield and support Joe Lolley as he was wary of the spaces he would leave in behind for Gray to vacate should he be caught wandering and he was largely very disciplined, even if he was beaten by the winger's flair now and again.

But here he comes up against ostensibly a central midfielder occupying a wide berth, but with a licence to roam into the centre, where he can contribute towards the visitors' embarrassment of attacking riches.

He has weighed in with an impressive tally of 10 goals this season in the league, surpassing his midfield team-mates quite comfortably, with Jonny Howson the closest to him on six.

His goalscoring haul is equal to Gary Hooper, putting him behind the currently sidelined Lewis Grabban (12) and Cameron Jerome (18) only and, with him being a threat aerially, keen to pick up the second balls and also diligent defensively, Smith will have to be at his best.

Sean Scannell v Steven Whittaker

Sean Scannell v Steven Whittaker

This is a big opportunity for Scannell to impress because, with Harry Bunn injured, he is the only other wide option available to Powell beyond man-of-the-moment Joe Lolley, who may himself have to move into a central position with Town's injury problems mounting.

But if not, Scannell will most likely line up on the left once more and comes up against one of the Canaries unsung heroes in Whittaker, who provides quality in both halves of the field.

The Scotland international will have to be watched by Scannell as he has a high attacking work rate, with both he and Martin Olsson on the other flank posting three assists apiece this term.

But Norwich also have a fairly mean defensive record too, with Middlesbrough, Sheffield Wednesday and leaders Bournemouth the only teams in the division who can boast a better record at the back and Whittaker is a large part of that for Alex Neil's side.

In fact, Johnson, Olsson and captain Russell Martin are the outfielders who can claim more first-team minutes under their belts this season, underlining his importance to fellow Scot Neil and Town will need Scannell - still their top creator in the squad with six assists - to recapture his early-season form here.

James Vaughan v Sebastien Bassong

James Vaughan v Sebastien Bassong

Vaughan fought hard on his own up front against Birmingham but with little joy as, after having some initial success in the opening exchanges, he was largely snuffed out by the defensive pairing of Jonathan Spector and Rob Kiernan.

There were indications that he may get back in the goalscoring groove once more when he screwed one early effort wide and picked up pockets of space in behind the centre-back duo twice early on, but it proved a false dawn.

It was a valiant display full of neat lay-offs, selfless running and creating space for others, but he once again looked lost without a partner in attack and if he has found the going tough in his last four, it isn't likely to get much easier here.

Since Neil's arrival in January, one of his primary alterations has been to firm up his backline by drafting in the rugged and uncompromising Bassong for Carlos Cuellar, with each of the Cameroonian's nine appearances for the Norfolk outfit coming under the Scot.

He had fallen out of favour under former boss Neil Adams and was shipped off on loan to Watford, but bringing him back from a direct rival has proved something of a masterstroke, with the Canaries having conceded just six times since he came into the side in January, with five clean sheets to boot.