As unlikely as it may sound City could be just seven points behind the Tigers if they were to win tonight.
Defeat would see Hull move into second place in the table and be 13 points in front of Cardiff.
Early team news:
Hull will be without striker Adama Diomande for Wednesday night's Championship home game against Cardiff due to a groin injury.
Diomande, whose Hull debut was delayed by a similar problem until early December after arriving from Norwegian side Stabaek in September, will be sidelined for three weeks.
The Norway international was one of seven changes for last weekend's FA Cup win against Brighton and boss Steve Bruce is expected to recall several players who were rested.
Goalkeeper Allan McGregor, midfielders Jake Livermore, Sam Clucas and David Meyler, plus strikers Mo Diame and Abel Hernandez are all back in contention. Defenders Alex Bruce and Michael Dawson (both knee) are still out.
Cardiff boss Russell Slade will rotate his squad again after making nine changes for last weekend's FA Cup defeat to Shrewsbury.
Defenders Bruno Ecuele Manga and Scott Malone were the only players retained from the line-up that started in the recent home league win against Blackburn.
David Marshall is likely to replace Simon Moore in goal, while defenders Matthew Connolly and Lee Peltier, midfielders Aron Gunnarsson, Craig Noone, Anthony Pilkington and Joe Ralls, plus strikers Joe Mason and Tony Watt are all in contention to return.
Central defenders Sean Morrison (knee) and Ben Turner (ankle) remain sidelined as the Bluebirds chase only their third league win on the road this season.
Match officials:
Referee: SCOTT DUNCAN
Assistants: Simon Mather and Nick Greenhalgh
Fourth Official: Trevor Kettle
MATCH FACTS
- Hull have lost only one of their past seven against Cardiff in the league, winning four.
- Cardiff have kept only one clean sheet in their past nine visits to Hull - February 2011, when they won 2-0.
- Robert Snodgrass has scored in three of his past five appearances against the Bluebirds.
- Last time out, Cardiff's Joe Mason netted his sixth goal of the season - surpassing his goal total for 2014-15.
- The Tigers have won six of their past seven league games at the KC Stadium, losing the other.
- Hull City have seen 16 players find the back of the net for them this season - a league-high total.