Nottingham Forest travel to struggling Bristol City in the Championship this weekend for Billy Davies's first game back at the helm.

The Reds could move within three points of the playoffs with victory at Ashton Gate and leap up to seventh in the table should other results go their way.

Sean O'Driscoll's side are in need of three points for very different reasons, currently lying second-bottom of the league, five points from safety.

City are without four key players due to injury - Louis Carey, Cole Skuse, Ryan Taylor and Neil Kilkenny - while Marvin Elliott is doubtful after going off on international duty with Jamaica in midweek.

Forest will give late fitness tests to Adlene Guedioura, who returned from Africa Cup of Nations duty with a bug, and Daniel Ayala, who has been undergoing rehabilitation following a spell on the sidelines.

Recent form

Bristol City: LLLWWL

Notts Forest: DLWDLL

Possible lineups

Bristol City: Heaton; Moloney, Nyatanga, Fontaine, Cunningham, Kelly, Adomah, Pearson, Anderson, Baldock, Davies

Notts Forest: Darlow, Jara Reyes, Halford, Collins, Harding, Cohen, Moussi, Lansbury, Reid, Henderson, Sharp

Sports Mole says: 1-2

Previews by email