Leicester City are aiming to maintain their unbeaten start to the new Premier League season when they travel to the South Coast to meet Bournemouth.
The Foxes are currently second in the table, while Eddie Howe's side sit 13th.
Bournemouth
© Getty Images
Two games played and two defeats was not how Bournemouth envisaged the start to their maiden Premier League campaign, but any doubts were firmly put to bed with their first win of the season last weekend.
The Bees edged a seven-goal thriller at West Ham United, with Callum Wilson scoring a hat-trick in a 4-3 win.
This week, they hope to get their home form up and running after their opening-day defeat against Aston Villa, in which Rudy Gestede netted a second-half winner for Tim Sherwood's team on his debut.
After failing to find the net in their opening two games, they ran riot at West Ham and also put four past Hartlepool United in the League Cup.
Nevertheless, Howe is hoping to add a striker before the transfer window shuts and has reportedly had two bids rejected for Norwich City's Lewis Grabban.
If Grabban signs in this window, he could make his debut against the Canaries as they host Bournemouth in their next game after the international break.
This early phase of the season could be crucial to Bournemouth's eventual outcome, as they don't face any of last season's top four until they meet Manchester City on October 17.
Their home form will be vital, and a win against Leicester could create some invaluable momentum.
Recent form: LLW
Recent form (all competitions): LLWW
Leicester City
© Getty Images
Leicester have arguably been the surprise package of the season so far, with two wins and a draw from their three Premier League games.
After sacking Nigel Pearson, who got the Foxes promoted and kept them up last season, Leicester became many pundits' pick to go down this year.
However, new boss Claudio Ranieri has galvanised the squad and led them to impressive wins against Sunderland and West Ham, before last week's 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur.
Winger Riyad Mahrez has played a big role in their early form with four goals in the opening three games of the season, and he is likely to be their danger man once again on Saturday.
Leicester have brought their league form into the League Cup too, as they thumped Bury 4-1 on Tuesday night.
After the international break, the Foxes come up against Aston Villa and Stoke City, before they host their first top-four side of the season in Arsenal.
Recent form: WWD
Recent form (all competitions): WWDW
Team News
© Getty Images
Bournemouth are likely to name the same team that beat West Ham last week, with Howe sticking with a 4-4-2 formation.
Callum Wilson is likely to be partnered by Joshua King in attack, with Matt Ritchie offering support from the right wing.
Eddie Howe has just one injury casualty, as Harry Arter remains out with a hamstring strain.
Leicester could hand a first league start to new midfielder Gokhan Inler, who joined from Napoli this summer, while Matthew James remains a long-term absentee due to a knee injury.
Bournemouth possible starting lineup:
Boruc; Francis, Elphick, Cook, Daniels; Ritchie, O'Kane, Surman, Gradel; King, Wilson.
Leicester City possible starting lineup:
Schmeichel, De Laet, Huth, Morgan, Schlupp, Albrighton, Drinkwater, Inler, Mahrez, Okazaki, Vardy.
Head To Head
These two sides have met just eight times in their history, due to largely being in different divisions.
Leicester won their first clash 3-2 in 1987, and also did the double two seasons ago on their way to promotion.
However, Bournemouth have won three of the eight contests but have not tasted success since March 1989, and have lost each of the last four.
Video Preview
Hit play below to see what the Sports Mole Sofa had to say about this encounter:
We say: Bournemouth 2-2 Leicester City
Both these sides like to play open, attacking football, which promises an entertaining game on the South Coast.
Bournemouth will be buoyed by last week's win, and could prove to be difficult to beat again for the Foxes, despite their fine start to the season.
This game promises goals, so we are going for a score draw.
No Data Analysis info
