Millwall will hope to continue their push to stay in the Championship with three points away at Cardiff City on Saturday afternoon.

The Lions sit five points away from safety, but have a game in hand on their rivals and are enjoying a mini run of strong form.

Meanwhile, Cardiff are safely in mid-table and will hope to secure a top-half finish to build momentum ahead of next season.

Cardiff City

Cardiff have had a frustrating return to Championship football following their relegation from the Premier League last year, but they could end the season on a high.

After Millwall, the Bluebirds face bottom-of-the-table Blackpool and fellow mid-table side Nottingham Forest as they look to leave their supporters optimistic ahead the 2015-16 campaign.

Cardiff's home form is a cause for concern though as they have won just one of their last eight in front of their own supporters, and lost 3-0 to Bolton Wanderers on Easter Monday.

They hit back with a 2-1 win away at Leeds United in their next game, but lost 3-1 to Ipswich Town last time out.

Their patchy form is typical of a mid-table side, but if they can pick up some solid points between now and the end of the season then they may be able to climb from their current position of 13th into the top half.

Promotion will be the target for Russell Slade next year, and he will be keen to improve his squad over the summer to build a side which is capable of competing for a return to the Premier League.

Recent form: DWDLWL

Millwall

© Getty Images

Millwall may be the marginal favourites to win this game, despite their torrid season which has left them in serious danger of going down to League One.

However, momentum does funny things in football and the Lions will be buoyed by their 2-0 victory over Wigan Athletic on Tuesday which has given them a chance of preserving their Championship status.

Victory in South Wales would put the Lions just two points behind Rotherham United, who occupy 21st in the league, and the Millers don't play this weekend.

Their scheduled game with Reading has been arranged as the Royals play Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-finals on Saturday afternoon.

However, if Millwall are going to overtake them in the league then victory at Cardiff is essential as they finish the season with games against top-half side Blackburn Rovers, and playoff hopefuls Derby County and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

They have lost just one of their last five games, but haven't won away from home since they beat Birmingham City 1-0 in February.

Recent form: LDDWLW

Team News

© Getty Images

Cardiff are still without on-loan striker Conor McAleny through injury, so 23-year-old forward Joe Mason is expected to lead the line once again.

Eoin Doyle is expected to start in McAleny's absence for the second game in a row after he scored against Ipswich, while winger Anthony Pilkington could start for the first time since he recovered from an injury.

Millwall are without midfielder Ed Upson, who was sent off in the ill-tempered clash with Wigan in mid-week for his involvement in a fracas.

Shaun Williams could miss the clash after he was taken off after 42 minutes with an injury and is likely to be replaced by Nicky Bailey.

Striker Magaye Gueye is pushing to start after he scored a late second on Tuesday.

Cardiff City possible starting lineup:
Marshall, Peltier, Malone, Ecuele Manga, Morrison, Whittingham, Gunnarsson, Pilkington, Ralls, Doyle, Mason

Millwall possible starting lineup:
Forde, Cummings, Nelson, Beevers, Harding, Woolford, Abdou, Bailey, Martin, O'Brien, Gregory

Head To Head

Millwall clinched a vital win over Cardiff when the sides met in October, as Danny Shittu's goal gave them a 1-0 win in South London.

That was their first win over the Welsh side in nine matches going back to 2005, but they edge the head to head record with 21 wins to Cardiff's 20.

The Bluebirds have a better record in their own stadium though, as they have won 13 of the 31 encounters, while 11 others have been drawn.

We say: Cardiff City 1-2 Millwall

The Championship is giving us one of the closest promotion races ever, but the bottom could be about to heat up as well.

On paper, Millwall are the underdogs for this game but they will be confident of turning over Cardiff after such a morale-boosting win in mid-week.

This, combined with the fact that Cardiff have little to play for, has led us to predict a 2-1 away win.

Previews by email