Sports Mole previews the basement battle between QPR and Leicester City at Loftus Road as two newly-promoted clubs strive to move out of the relegation zone.

Two sides in desperate need of three points meet in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon as Queens Park Rangers host Leicester City at Loftus Road.

Hoops boss Harry Redknapp has admitted that this is a must-win game for his side as they look for a victory which they feel that their recent displays warrant.

The Londoners have improved notably over the past month, but valiant performances against Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea and in-form Newcastle United have yielded only one point.

They have dropped to the foot of the table, with Leicester in 18th and fellow newly-promoted side Burnley completing the bottom three, suggesting that the trio are struggling with the demands of the top flight.

Leicester's promising start to the season suggested that they may avoid a relegation battle entirely this season, but a seven-match winless run has seen them dragged into the drop zone.

They partially halted their slump with a 0-0 draw at home to Sunderland last weekend, but that stalemate was the fifth game in succession in which the Foxes have failed to find the net.

Their away scoring record makes for poor reading too, with Leonardo Ulloa's winner at Stoke City their only goal in six games. Nigel Pearson has returned to a 4-4-2 formation in a bid to rediscover the golden touch.

Ulloa will likely be partnered by Jamie Vardy, who appears to have leapfrogged David Nugent in the pecking order. Jeffrey Schlupp and Riyad Mahrez will be tasked with providing service from the wings.

Marcin Wasilewski has displaced Liam Moore as Wes Morgan's defensive partner, having started the last three games, although Matthew Upson's imminent comeback could soon put his place under threat.

Dean Hammond is Leicester's only other injury absentee, and Redknapp is also without one of his regular midfielders following the news that tough-tackling Sandro will be out until Christmas with a knee injury.

Therefore, Karl Henry is poised for a run in the team, and Rio Ferdinand, who has served his three match suspension, could force his way back in now that Richard Dunne has picked up a ban of his own.

Chilean duo Mauricio Isla and Eduardo Vargas sat out the 1-0 defeat at St James' Park last weekend after a late return from international duty, but should be recalled as Sandro and Nedum Onuoha miss out.

This will be the first Premier League match between these sides since 1995 - when QPR ran out 2-0 winners in the capital.

QPR:

Recent form: LLWLDL

Possible starting lineup: Green; Isla, Ferdinand, Caulker, Yun; Fer, Henry, Barton, Vargas; Austin, Zamora

Leicester:

Recent form: DLLLLD

Possible starting lineup: Schmeichel; De Laet, Wasilewski, Morgan, Konchesky; Mahrez, Cambiasso, James, Schlupp; Vardy, Ulloa

Sports Mole says: 2-0