Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion couldn't have had different preparations for their crunch Championship clash on Saturday evening, as while Leeds have picked up seven points from their last three matches, which has catapulted them back to the top of the table, West Brom have recorded only one point in their last four games, and they have slipped to seventh place in the division.
However, Baggies boss Darren Moore will be able to call on a trio of players that have been missing through injury in recent weeks, and the return of that sparkling triumvirate is sure to strengthen a West Brom side that will not only be looking to return to the play-off places, but also stop Leeds' fine run of form.
Dwight Gayle, Gareth Barry and Kieran Gibbs are all expected to be in contention for Saturday's 5:30pm kick-off, but it's not all good news for Moore as he will be without Chris Brunt, who picked up a hamstring injury in Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Hull City.
Gayle is West Brom's top Championship scorer on eight goals, but he has been forced to miss their last two matches, while Gibbs is another that has been forced to watch from the sidelines the last fortnight as the Baggies form has dipped dramatically after a blistering start to the season.
Arguably, the return of Barry, who has missed West Brom's last four matches, will be the biggest boost for Baggies fans as the veteran midfielder can help solidify a team that has been struggling of late, and it would be no surprise to see Moore recall all three big names to Saturday's starting line-up.
Leeds are currently ahead of Norwich City on goal difference at the top of the Championship after they came from behind to beat Wigan Athletic at the weekend, but Marcelo Bielsa will know that his side face one of their toughest tests of the season on Saturday tea-time, and it is not going to be an easy task to come away from the Hawthorns with a positive result.
