By Chris O'Brien
August 20 2004

The Football League Championship campaign continues on Saturday as The City face promotion chasers Ipswich Town at Portman Road. Welsh trio Daniel Gabbidon, Robert Earnshaw and Paul Parry could all be available for selection after shaking off injuries that put them out of the mid-week international.

Cardiff City will look to put the disaster of Friday the 13th behind them, but will not find it easy as they visit Portman Road to face Joe Royle's promotion-chasing Ipswich Town. Lennie Lawrence is expected to ring the changes as his side travel to East Anglia, and after the woeful performance that saw the Bluebirds beaten 1-0 by Plymouth Argyle last week, it's hardly surprising.

Jobi McAnuff looks set to make his Cardiff City debut following his £350,000 move from West Ham United. The 23-year-old could be thrown straight into the City line-up as Lawrence looks to add some width to his midfield, meaning Richard Langley could be dropped to the bench. Willie Boland is back in contention for a place in the starting line-up following injury, but could have to settle for a place on the bench with Lee Bullock on form. Graham Kavanagh looks certain to start alongside the former York City man.

Fans have been anxious to see Paul Parry in the starting line-up, but Lawrence probably won't leave out the influential John Robinson meaning the young left winger will have to settle for a place on the bench. That is assuming he is available, after missing out on a place in the Wales squad for the trip to Latvia through injury. Robert Earnshaw and Daniel Gabbidon both also missed the trip, but are believed to have trained this week and should start the match. If Earnshaw is deemed fit, he will partner Alan Lee up front with Peter Thorne still not 100% ready to return.

Rumours suggest Lawrence may be ready to give Tony Warner his first Cardiff City game. The 6'5 giant has sat on the bench whilst Margetson has played the opening three Football League games of the season, but that could change tomorrow. If Warner doesn't play, I would see it as almost certain that he will play against Kidderminster in the League Cup during mid-week. Whoever's between the sticks can expect to be defending a back-four of Vidmar, Gabbidon, Page and Weston tomorrow, with Gary Croft and James Collins both sitting out on the bench again.

Ipswich Town made the play-offs last season, a 1-1 draw against City on the final day of the season made sure of that. Despite a first-leg victory, West Ham United knocked the Suffolk outfit out of the play-offs, denying them the chance of joining arch-rivals Norwich City in the pinnacle of English football. The club have suffered several high-profile departures since last season, but expectation remains high and a play-off place is minimum requirements for the club this term.

The hosts are sweating on the fitness of influential duo Jim Magilton and Jason De Vos. Magilton has been out for the entirety of the season so far through injury, whilst former City target and Canadian international De Vos is nursing a stress fracture of the fibula. Both could miss the Championship clash.

Enjoy the game...