Bristol City lost heavily at home last week to Ipswich Town with Michael Chopra scoring a couple and the Robins will be looking to recover from that and not want to find themselves rock bottom of the table with two defeats if they lose today.
Cardiff's win at West Ham has given the club and the fans a boost and we go into today's match looking to build on that win and to get into a winning groove at home where we find ourselves again on Wednesday against Brighton. The Seagulls have already notched up two wins from two games.
City welcome back the eight players who missed the midweek win at Oxford in the Carling Cup because they were on international duty. The Bluebirds will be without Filip Kiss (Hamstring) and Steve McPhail (still catching up after missing pre season). Malky has said everyone else is fit so we hopefully the injury to Rudy Gestede that saw him come off at the Kassam Stadium was just a twinge.
Last week Cardiff started with Miller (pictured in the rain skippering Scotland in midweek)and Earnshaw up front with Gestede making a huge impact off the bench at West Ham. In the pre season game at home to Parma Mackay started with a three pronged attack of Joe Mason, Earnie and Gestede. I wonder if he might consider something similar today with Earnie and Kenny supported by one of Mason or Rudy?
Cardiff City (possible)
Marshall, McNaughton, Hudson, Gerrard, Taylor, Gunnarsson, Whittingham, Cowie, Conway, Miller, Earnshaw.
It's early days but Cardiff could find themselves top of the table at 5pm with a good victory. And even though there's a long way to go I'd rather be at the top end of the table than the bottom.
Bristol City's postponed Carling Cup tie with Swindon could prove a blessing in disguise for Marvin Elliott and Liam Fontaine, with the duo now fit for their game against Cardiff on Sunday.
Robins manager Keith Millen said the pair would have missed the Swindon tie with ankle injuries but have recovered in time for their visit to South Wales.
Millen told the club's official website: "We would have been without Marvin and Liam for the game against Swindon through injury, but they've recovered well throughout the week and they'll be in the squad for Cardiff."
Kalifa Cisse, Albert Adomah and Neil Kilkenny will also be at Millen's disposal after returning from international duty.
"I'm happy with how the squad is shaping up fitness-wise for Sunday's game in Cardiff," Millen added.
Cardiff City v Bristol City
Sunday August 14th, ko 3:00pm.