Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka has urged his side to ignore Leicester City's poor Premier League form when they travel to the King Power Stadium on Saturday.
The Foxes sit just one point and one place above Boro heading into this weekend's clash following a run of only one win from their last seven Premier League outings.
Their domestic form has been in sharp contrast to their European exploits, with Leicester having booked their place in the knockout stages of the Champions League as Group G winners in midweek.
"Leicester are not in a good moment in the league but they are qualified in the Champions League, and to play in the places they have played in, in the Champions League, is not easy. They won the league last year and they are example of togetherness and why it is important to play as a team if you want to achieve important things," Karanka told reporters.
"For example, Tottenham have not qualified [for the knockout stages] and Leicester have qualified, so they are having a good season. They are not in the position they expected to be in the league but they have a very good, experienced manager and it will be a tough game for us.
"The important thing for me when you are playing against the top teams in the league is that you go right to the last moment of the game still with a chance to win the game. We had the experience where we lost in the first 50 minutes against Everton but now we are more consistent on the pitch. Against City we scored in the 91st minute and we had a chance last Sunday to score at the end of the game, so it feels like with this squad we have a chance."
Boro have won only one of their last 10 league outings and sit just one point clear of the relegation zone.
Barney Corkhill
