If you had said at the start of this season that heading into December one of these teams would be third in the Championship table and the other would be flirting with the relegation zone, most people would have tipped Birmingham City to be the higher-placed side.

However, under Tony Mowbray Boro have put together a string of results that have seen them become promotion contenders at this stage.

Australian striker Scott McDonald has been in good form in front of goal in recent matches and he is expected to lead the Boro line during their trip to Birmingham on Friday night.

Loanee midfielder Josh McEachran should also feature from the beginning.

Meanwhile, the hosting Blues are likely to recall Nikola Zigic to their starting lineup for the visit of Boro.

Recent form

Birmingham: DLLDWL

Middlesbrough: WLLWDW

Possible starting lineups

Birmingham: Butland; Caddis, Davies, Ibanez, Robinson; Lovenkrands, Morrison, Mullins, Spector; Zigic, King

Middlesbrough: Steele; Hoyte, Hines, Bikey, Halliday; Bailey, McEachran, Smallwood, Ledesma; Jutkiewicz, McDonald

Sports Mole says: 2-2