Possible line-ups:
MIDDLESBROUGH (4-4-2): Jones, Hoyte, Wheater, Huth, Taylor, Tuncay, Shawky, Bates, Downing, Alves, King
HULL (4-5-1): Duke, Ricketts, Turner, Zayatte, Dawson, Fagan, Geovanni, Barmby, Ashbee, Mendy, Manucho
Middlesbrough subs (from): Turnbull, McMahon, Riggott, Grounds, Hines, Aliadiere, Walker, A Johnson.
Hull subs (from): Myhill, Garcia, Boateng, Halmosi, Folan, Marney, Doyle, Cousin, Kilbane.
MIDDLESBROUGH: Skipper Emanuel Pogatetz has been ruled out of tomorrow's relegation clash with Hull. The Austria international injured his knee in last weekend's 4-1 defeat at Bolton and is expected to be sidelined for around three weeks. Gary O'Neil will also be absent this afternoon as he starts a two-match suspension following his tenth booking of the season. Chris Riggott returns to the squad following a thigh injury, and Adam Johnson is also expected to be available after he shook off the ankle injury he sustained while playing for England Under-21s.
Suspensions: O'Neil (two games)
Injuries: Pogatetz (knee), Digard (knee)
Last five league games: LLDLW
Leading league scorer: Tuncay 5
Next game: vs Fulham (H) 18/04/09
HULL: Daniel Cousin is a major doubt ahead of Hull's trip to the Riverside. The former Rangers striker has missed the last three games with a back injury and Hull boss Phil Brown is awaiting the results of an assessment before finalising his line-up. If Cousin is passed fit, he is likely to start on the bench. The same is true of former Boro skipper George Boateng, who is back in the squad following a three-month lay-off because of a knee injury. Hull have no new injury problems, but Jimmy Bullard (knee) and Anthony Gardner (back) remain long-term absentees.
Suspensions: None
Injuries: Gardner (back), Bullard (knee)
Last five league games: DLDWL
Leading league scorer: Geovanni 7
Key Player: Geovanni - The Brazilian appears to be slowly rediscovering the form that lit up the start of the season.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
League head to head: Middlesbrough 16, Hull 10, Draws 11
Referee: Steve Bennett (Orpington) G33 Y118 R1 Ave: 3.61
Last Middlesbrough game: vs West Ham (H) 25/02/09 W2-0 Y2 R0
Odds: H11/10; A13/5; D9/4
It's a fact: Hull have only claimed one victory on Teesside in the last 54 years.
Comment by SCOTT WILSON: This is the must-win to end all must-wins, and an early goal could well prove crucial.
Prediction: 3-1
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