Brentford host Newcastle United on Saturday afternoon in a game that could have lasting repercussions on the race for Premier League survival.
Thomas Frank's freshly promoted Bees have stuttered after a blistering start to life in England's top flight, finding themselves just two points ahead of 17th-placed Newcastle. The Magpies have played two fewer matches than their upcoming hosts and haven't lost away from home since a trip to Anfield in mid-December.
Here's all you need to know about this relegation-tinged meeting.
How to watch Brentford vs Newcastle on TV/live stream
When is kick off? Saturday 26 February, 15:00 (GMT)
Where is the match being played? Brentford Community Stadium
TV channel/live stream? Sky Sports Soccer Saturday*/BBC Final Score* (UK), Peacock Premium (US)
Highlights? Match of the Day - 10.20pm BBC One, Sky Sports Football YouTube
Referee? Mike Dean
VAR? Darren England
*studio updates only
Brentford team news
Christian Eriksen is edging ever closer to a first competitive return since he collapsed during Denmark's Euro 2020 campaign. The winter arrival lasted 80 minutes in a behind closed doors friendly with Rangers in the week leading up to what could be his first appearance since June.
There may be an opening in midfield for Eriksen to fill after Mathias Jensen limped off in the first half of last weekend's defeat away to Arsenal with a knee injury.
Mathias Jorgensen also returned to action in the aforementioned friendly. The team's top scorer Ivan Toney has missed the last three matches but was pictured back in training ahead of the visit of his former side.
Newcastle team news
Eddie Howe was optimistic about the potential return of his instrumental January addition Kieran Trippier before the end of the season, but reluctant to reveal any timeframe.
Callum Wilson - who remains the club's top scorer despite no participation this calendar year at all - is unlikely to feature until the campaign's final few weeks as well.
Isaac Hayden (knee) and Jamal Lewis (groin) have also been bound to the treatment room for the foreseeable future. Matt Ritchie and Javier Manquillo aren't thought to be suffering with injuries of quite the same severity but remain doubtful of any involvement until March.
Ryan Fraser limped off with a hamstring concern during Newcastle's spirited 1-1 draw against West Ham last weekend that isn't expected to be serious. Allan Saint-Maximin missed that fixture with a sore calf but may well have recovered after a week off.
Brentford vs Newcastle head-to-head record
The airborne derby between the Bees and Magpies has only taken to the skies 13 times across all competitions. Newcastle boast the significantly superior record in this particular matchup, recording eight victories to Brentford's four.
Their previous meeting this season was the first that has ever ended all square, as each side exchanged a dizzying raft of blows to draw 3-3 in November.
Brentford battled to a famous 1-0 win over Newcastle in the Magpies' only ever visit to the Brentford Community Stadium, earning passage to the sixth round of the 2020/21 League Cup. However, the Bees did lose six successive matches in the fixture prior to that knockout victory, last beating Newcastle in league play in January 1948.
Brentford vs Newcastle score prediction
Brentford have won just one league game in 2022, losing an alarming six of their past seven.
Newcastle, conversely, come into the contest buoyed by half a dozen Premier League matches without defeat - last walking away empty-handed against Manchester City in December.
This may be a more even contest than the contrasting form suggests, but any points gained for either side at this stage of the competition are desperately valuable.
Prediction: Brentford 1-1 Newcastle
Source : 90min