Huddersfield Town host Birmingham City looking to recover from a five-goal thumping last weekend at Norwich City and aiming to keep up their impressive recent home form.
The Terriers have gone seven unbeaten at the John Smith's Stadium, dating back to a 2-1 home defeat to Middlesbrough in Chris Powell's first match in charge.
But they suffered their heaviest defeat of the season at Carrow Road after Murray Wallace's early sending-off and face a Birmingham side who were on the opposite end of a five-goal scoreline by thrashing Reading 6-1.
Here are the three battles which could decide the meeting between the two teams as Town look to return to winning ways against Gary Rowett's side.
Tommy Smith v David Cotterill
It is unclear at this point exactly what role Smith will play this weekend, but he is more or less certain to be on the teamsheet given Powell's selection problems at the back.
Smith was exposed frequently at Norwich in the first half but held firm to help see his side through to the interval, with his struggles primarily arriving in the second half when he reverted from right-back to central defence as Norwich ran riot.
He may yet stay alongside captain Mark Hudson this weekend and Lee Peltier could come in on the right, but he will be given a serious test of his defensive credentials by the Blues' star man.
Cotterill was an inspired piece of business by former manager Lee Clark on a summer Bosman move from Doncaster Rovers but he has also delivered the goods under Rowett.
He was particularly influential in a brace of key 2-1 home wins over Watford and Nottingham Forest, in which he scored, and his tally of five assists cannot be matched, while four league goals in total is just one shy of top goalscorer Clayton Donaldson.
Jonathan Hogg v Demarai Gray
The midfield trio of Hogg, Jacob Butterfield and Conor Coady is currently Town's most settled area of the first team and they are each expected to take their places once more on Saturday.
One potential interruption to their structure hinges on whether or not Town boss Powell views Coady as the man to step in for Wallace in central defence after his cameo role in the position at Norwich.
But Hogg will once again be tasked with extinguishing any fires caused by the precocious young talent that is Gray, whose speed across the ground and agility are reminiscent of a certain Raheem Sterling at Liverpool.
Powell acknowledged during his pre-match press conference that the youngster has a free role in this Birmingham side and, with former Town man Lee Novak having exited the XI to liberate the 18-year-old still further, he thrived against Reading.
The Royals could not cope with his blistering pace, drifting between the lines and his finishing ability, which scoffed at the idea that he may not yet possess an end product as he came of age and, as such, there will be a level of expectancy on him now to deliver on a regular basis.
Nahki Wells v Darren Randolph
It may go against the grain to pit a striker directly up against a goalkeeper for a duel, but Randolph's form under Rowett has been a chief factor in their ascent since the former Burton Albion man's arrival at the helm.
Randolph was outstanding in his first game in charge as the Blues forced a morale-boosting and creditable 0-0 derby draw at Wolves, as well as a stellar display in a goalless home stalemate with Cardiff City.
Since Rowett took charge, Randolph has kept three clean sheets, with a further shut-out in a 1-0 win at Rotherham United added in - having kept just one all season prior to the change in management and that came back in August.
So Wells faces arguably one of the division's in-form goalkeepers at the moment and the spotlight will fall on him to grab the goals Town desperately need.
The Bermudian is without a league strike since the convincing 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest and has developed a bad habit of snatching at the opportunities that have come his way during his recent drought in front of goal.
