This Friday evening Nottingham Forest will play host to Preston North End at the City Ground, with the winner securing a place in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

The Tricky Trees will be without midfielder Henri Lansbury because of suspension, while Dexter Blackstock and Chris Cohen have been ruled out with injuries.

Meanwhile, Billy Davies may give the nod to goalkeeper Dorus de Vries, who has not featured for Forest since a Capital One Cup tie against Burnley in September.

As for Preston, they go into the tie having beaten two of the four Championship sides that they have faced in cup competitions this season.

Forest boss Davies spent two years in charge of North End between 2004 and 2006.

Recent form

Forest: DWWDDW

Preston: LWWWLD

Possible starting lineups

Forest: De Vries; Jara, Halford, Collins, Harding; Vaughan Moussi, Mackie, Paterson, Reid; Cox

Preston: Rudd; Wiseman, Buchanan, Kilkenny, Clarke; Wright, Welsh, Holmes; K Davies, Garner, Gallagher

Sports Mole says: 2-0