Queens Park Rangers play host to Cardiff City in Saturday's late kickoff aiming to pick up their first points of the Championship campaign.

Last season's relegated Premier League side retain hopes of challenging for a place in the playoffs, but they must click into gear against a Cardiff outfit unbeaten in their last 11 games.

Queens Park Rangers

Defeat to Charlton Athletic on the opening day is certainly not the way Chris Ramsey envisaged his side's season getting underway, but that 2-0 reverse went to show that this campaign could be a tough one for QPR.

Tipped by many to earn an instant return to the Premier League, with others more reserved in their backing, Rangers are now counting down the days until the transfer window slams shut.

The club's transfer dealings to date have been positive; Swindon Town duo Ben Gladwin and Massimo Luongo offering hungry options in midfield, while the returning Jamie Mackie will look to provide goals in attack.

It is the outgoing business which is currently making all the headlines, however, with questions still being asked over the futures of Rob Green and prolific forward Charlie Austin.

Each will play a vital part in the Hoops' promotion aspirations should they remain, but in the case of the latter a move away between now and September 2 looks a real possibility.

A lack of goals cost Ramsey's men in their opening league fixture, as strikes from Tony Watt and Morgan Fox helped Charlton to a somewhat comfortable victory in the end.

Ramsey is looking to strengthen his side further with the addition of more new faces, including Bolton Wanderers defender Tim Ream who is now a confirmed target for the West London outfit.

Off-the-field distractions certainly do not help at this time of the year, but as the 3-0 victory over Yeovil Town highlighted in midweek, time will be a valuable factor in this Rangers side blending together.

Recent form (all competitions): LWDDLW

Cardiff City

In comparison to QPR, or any other side in the division for that matter, Cardiff appear to have a far more settled group of players to choose from.

Just the one senior addition has come in this summer - Sammy Ameobi from Newcastle United - with the Bluebirds continuing their cost-cutting drive under the watch of Russell Slade.

It is not necessarily a bad thing, either, with more needing to be done to keep the club's finances in line. However, when taking into account that City produced a string of underwhelming displays last season, it will require an awful lot to keep supporters motivated.

While Slade is still working hard to win over the fanbase, results since February onwards certainly have not been all that bad, with away games in particular underlining just how tough to beat Cardiff have now become.

The Bluebirds have lost just one of their last nine fixtures on the road, and they face off against a QPR side with just one win at Loftus Road all calendar year - albeit coming in their most recent outing against Newcastle United.

Injuries may have hit Cardiff during the summer, particularly at the back where possible first-choice centre-back duo Ben Turner and Bruno Manga picked up problems, but it is in this area that the Welsh outfit still look at their strongest.

That said, just one clean sheet in their last eight outings is a record that must be improved upon, particularly sloppy goals being given away like the one witnessed against Fulham last time out.

If not for substitute Craig Noone's late stunner in that one, City would have kicked their campaign off on a real low note. Now, having rescued a 1-1 draw, they have the chance to maintain their unbeaten run at a ground they have typically struggled at in the past.

Recent form (all competitions): WWWWDW

Team News

Cardiff could welcome Kenwyne Jones into the starting lineup for the first time this season after the striker returned to the bench against AFC Wimbledon in the midweek League Cup win.

Noone, a goalscorer in both fixtures this term to date, may also have played himself into Slade's reckoning, meaning that either Anthony Pilkington or Joe Ralls could make way.

The other option for the City boss is to shuffle the pack to integrate both players into a five-man midfield, with Joe Mason expected to lead the line in West London ahead of Jones.

David Marshall sits out the final match of his suspension, meanwhile, but another Premier League-linked goalkeeper in Green is likely to start for the Hoops once again.

Another big question mark hangs over the head of Austin, yet he is also certain to start should no bid come in between now and kickoff.

Further changes will be made to the largely second-string side fielded against Yeovil, although Matthew Phillips could be among those to retain his place.

Queens Park Rangers possible starting lineup:
Green; Perch, Onouha, Hill, Konchesky; Luongo, Henry, Phillips, Chery, Mackie; Austin

Cardiff City possible starting lineup:
Moore; Malone, Morrison, Connolly, Peltier; Noone, Ralls, Dikgacoi, Whittingham, Pilkington; Mason

Head To Head

QPR have won 13 of their last 17 home encounters against Cardiff, losing four of those fixtures and keeping 10 clean sheets in the process.

The Bluebirds have conceded two goals in three of their last four meetings against their weekend opponents, including the last one which finished 2-2 at the Cardiff City Stadium in April 2011.

The sides have not met since then, however, due to their subsequent promotions and relegations to and from the Premier League in the intervening years.

Video Preview

Hit play below to see what the Sports Mole Sofa had to say about this encounter:

We say: QPR 1-0 Cardiff City

Ramsey has tried his best to play down expectations for this campaign, suggesting that his side must simply avoid going the same way as many others before them and suffering successive relegations from the top flight. Likewise, the target for Cardiff is to simply challenge for the top six, but they will be edged out by a QPR side still boasting the likes of Austin, Phillips and Green.