Both teams head into this fixture off the back of victories, with Lee Bowyer's Birmingham City securing Championship safety with a 2-1 win against relegation threatened Derby County courtesy of a second-half brace from Lukas Jutkiewicz. This result sunk Derby further into the relegation mire, whereas Blues moved up to 16th. 

Cardiff City also secured victory last time out, prevailing 2-1 against Wycombe Wanderers with Kieffer Moore scoring twice for Mick McCarthy's Bluebirds. This result all but relegated Wycombe, keeping Cardiff in eighth place.

 

  • Team news

Birmingham will be without Scott Hogan who is out for the rest of the season with a back injury, and Jake Clarke-Salter will miss Saturday's action after the defender rolled his ankle in training. Lee Bowyer also hinted at a start for academy prospect Amari Miller in his recent press conference, with Miller impressing from the bench in recent weeks. 

Cardiff remain without Joe Bennett and Lee Tomlin who are long-term absentees, and Will Vaulks will be absent after the Welshman was sent off last time out. McCarthy also hinted that academy prospects Rubin Colwill, Isaak Davies, Kieron Evans and Sam Bowen are likely to feature this Saturday. 

  • Predicted lineups

Birmingham City

Etheridge; Colin, Dean, Roberts, Friend; Sunjic, Harper; Bela, Sanchez, Miller; Jutkiewicz.

Cardiff City

Smithies; Morrison, Flint, Nelson; Ng, Pack, Ralls, Brown; Colwill, Murphy; Moore.

  • Ones to watch

Birmingham City - Marc Roberts

A solid figure in Birmingham's recent defensive improvements, Marc Roberts has been a regular starter in Bowyer's eleven, and a huge part of the recent upturn of form. The partnership of Roberts and Harlee Dean has proved be a fruitful one, with the pair keeping four clean sheets in the last six games, a significant improvement on defensive figures not so long ago. Armed with a long throw-in and spectacular crossing ability, Roberts is a threat from set-pieces and something Cardiff will have to keep an eye out for. 

Cardiff City - Kieffer Moore

With 20 goals this season, it's hard to ignore the attacking prowess of Moore and what threat the striker poses going forward. Scoring twice last time out, Moore will be full of confidence and averaging a goal every two games, the striker has been fairly consistent all season. Birmingham will have to keep a keen eye out for the striker, should they maintain their impressive defensive record. 

  • Previous meetings

In the earlier encounter between the two sides this season, Cardiff emerged 3-2 victors with Robert Glatzel, Harry Wilson and Sean Morrison all on the scoresheet for the Bluebirds. 

  • How to watch

The game will be available to watch at 15:00 BST on Saturday May 1 on each teams’ iFollow accounts for £10 respectively. 

  • Manager quotes

In the build-up to Saturday's fixture, Birmingham City head coach Lee Bowyer said:

”It is only right I give a few of the lads an opportunity from the start now. I need to see the players and what they could bring for us next season, a few young lads are included in that. I think it is right to have a look at them."

Cardiff City boss Mick McCarthy stated:

''It’s never a dead rubber. There is always something to play for. If you’re playing for pride or the shirt, there is something to play for. Birmingham won’t want to drop off now because they've been excellent ,they have been fighting. They have been scrapping and that’s not going to stop and hopefully it won’t stop with us either.''