Huddersfield Town boss Mark Robins takes his side to Middlesbrough tonight with plenty of options and a warning to ignore the Championship table.
While Friday’s home draw with Blackpool left Town eighth, Tony Mowbray’s Boro are 18th after being beaten 2-0 at leaders QPR on Saturday.
The Teessiders are still seeking their first home victory in league or cup at the sixth attempt, while Town’s target is a second away triumph.
Wideman Danny Ward, who scored a spectacular winner in last season’s home meeting with Mowbray’s men, is available after an ankle injury.
And Robins confirmed former Boro midfielder Jonathan Hogg is fit, having been taken off against Blackpool for tactical reasons.
Fans are also waiting to see if the manager selects teenage attacker Duane Holmes after two exciting outings from the bench.
“ We’re really looking forward to the game, but I’m certainly not taking the table into consideration,” said Robins as Town chase a first win in four visits to the Riverside Stadium and a first win at Middlesbrough since New Year’s Day 1986.
“It’s still too early to look at positions, top or bottom, and my main objective is to keep up points.
“The lads were bright, breezy and bubbly in training yesterday, and it’s another chance for them to face a big club at a big stadium.
“We know we face a test, because Middlesbrough have got good players and Tony Mowbray has plenty of pace available to him.”
Robins has good knowledge of recent Boro acquisition Jacob Butterfield, having had the Bradford- born former Norwich player in his team at Barnsley.
“He’s a good operator, and with the likes of Dean Whitehead, Grant Leadbitter and Jozsef Varga (the Hungarian on loan from Debrecen) to call on, they have a strong midfield.
“Albert Adomah and Mustapha Carayol provide pace out wide, and that’s something we know we have to deal with.
“But as I always say, from my point of view, it’s always about us and how we impose ourselves, and I want us to go there and be positive.”
