But defeat would see the gap down to four points as City's grip on a promotion place would be further eroded.
With teams like Hull and Middlesbrough in fine runs of form and Millwall kicking on again Cardiff can't afford a second defeat in a row after last weeks shock against Peterborough.
Hull won last night to go level on points with City and if the Bluebirds fail to win today then Crystal Palace will go top if they beat Huddersfield in the evening game.
Martyn Waghorn is expected to return to the Leicester squad just 10 days after an operation to remove his appendix.
Waghorn played through the pain barrier against Barnsley a fortnight ago and was sent for surgery shortly after the 2-2 home draw against the Tykes.
The striker missed last weekend's defeat at Millwall but has resumed full training to put himself back in contention to face the table-topping Bluebirds.
Defenders Sean St Ledger and Michael Keane remain out with hamstring injuries, with St Ledger currently in Germany seeing a specialist about the problem that has kept him out for two-and-a-half months.
Mark Hudson is set to return to their starting line-up at Leicester after missing the shock defeat to Peterborough.
The 30-year-old centre-back has served his one-match ban for his fifth yellow card of the season and looks likely to partner Ben Turner at the heart of the Bluebirds' defence.
That would leave Kevin McNaughton and Matt Connolly to battle it out for the right-back slot.
Malky Mackay also has midfielders Jordon Mutch and Aron Gunnarsson pushing for recalls for the npower Championship leaders, who face Crystal Palace at the Cardiff City Stadium on Boxing Day.
Former Watford attacker Tommy Smith is edging closer to a return to action with Mackay wary of rushing him back into action.
Meanwhile Nicky Maynard remains out for the rest of the campaign with his knee ligament injury while Kadeem Harris is almost fit after an ankle problem.
Leicester v Cardiff
Saturday 3:00pm.