Nottingham Forest and Huddersfield Town head into their game at the City Ground with neither club in contention for a promotion or relegation spot at the end of the campaign.

Despite sitting eight points behind Forest, Huddersfield will arguably be the more content with their season, but a mid-table spot is still up for grabs if they can put together a strong finish to the season.

Nottingham Forest

After starting the season in such a positive manner, it appeared as though Nottingham Forest would have a big part to play in the Championship promotion race, but a severe drop in form effectively put paid to their chances by the end of January.

However, despite missing out on a top-six position, new manager Dougie Freedman has restored optimism at the City Ground and despite three games without a win, there is genuine belief that the club have turned a corner.

The appointment of Freedman was met with mixed reaction but seven wins from 13 games has taken the club into ninth position in the standings.

They are still 13 points behind sixth-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers, but the fashion in which they end the campaign could lay the foundations for a strong bid for the title next season with Freedman at the helm.

Forest's latest setbacks have come against Norwich City, Wolves and Brentford - teams all vying for promotion - and although Watford and Ipswich Town are still to come, Freedman will believe that they can still make sure of ninth spot.

The Scot will be keen to see his team come faster out of the blocks, with just one goal being netted in the opening half-hour of their last eight fixtures, but they have generally made up for that with their attacking displays during the second half of matches.

Their last match at the City ground ended in a 2-1 defeat to Wolves, but before that contest, Forest had put together a run of five successive victories in the East Midlands.

Recent form: WDWLLD

Huddersfield Town

After being swiftly drafted in to replace Mark Robins in the first month of the season, Chris Powell was likely provided with the target of guiding the club away from the relegation zone rather than mounting any sort of charge on the playoffs.

Like his predecessor, Powell struggled to get the most out of the first-team squad, but the Terriers now arrive at the closing stages of the campaign almost safe from relegation and with plans to improve next year.

Their performances have tailed off recently - Friday's 2-1 win over Ipswich Town was their first in eight - but all in all, the club are in a good place under the guidance of Powell.

With Huddersfield just six points off a mid-table spot though, the season is far from over and a solid finish should be enough to secure their best league position in 15 years.

The triumph over Ipswich included a goal from striker James Vaughan, who went six games without netting before scoring twice in his last three to help Huddersfield secure four important points.

However, Powell will be looking for more from a defence who haven't kept a clean sheet since the 3-0 win over Reading, a run which spans nine games.

Recent form: LDDLDW

Team News

Front duo Dexter Blackstock and Modou Barrow have both been rated as "50-50" for Saturday's match at the City Ground.

Chuba Akpom should also be available after suffering a minor rib injury at Brentford, meaning that Tyler Walker is likely to remain on the bench, while Michail Antonio has been declared fit despite nursing a number of knocks.

Huddersfield could retain the same starting lineup that began against Ipswich Town, but Ishmael Miller is available after missing that fixture.

Midfielder Jonathan Hogg has also returned to training after being absent for the past two games.

Nottingham Forest possible starting lineup:
Darlow, Lichaj, Hobbs, Wilson, Fox, Mancienne, Vaughan, Burke, Lansbury, Antonio, Akpom

Huddersfield Town possible starting lineup:
Smithies, Smith, Hudson, Lynch, Scannell, Coady, Gobern, Butterfield, James, Vaughan, Wells

Head To Head

Despite the contrasting history of the two clubs, it's Huddersfield who hold the advantage in the head-to-head record. Forest have won 12 of their 28 meetings, with Forest close behind with 10.

However, it's Forest who have had the better of their recent fixtures, going on a nine-game unbeaten run from 2006 before losing to Huddersfield at the start of November.

Goals from Joel Lynch, Nahki Wells and Grant Holt helped the Terriers to a comfortable 3-0 success which stretched their unbeaten record in the Championship to seven matches.

Video Preview

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We say: Nottingham Forest 3-0 Huddersfield Town

Nottingham Forest have struggled to record points from their last three fixtures, but we can't back against them in this encounter. Their best form has come at home, while Huddersfield have struggled away from the John Smith's Stadium. Expect the East Midlands outfit to dominate from the first whistle in this match.