Ipswich Town host Leicester City in a crunch Premier League game at Portman Road this afternoon (3pm). Mark Heath previews the action...
MUST-WIN?
Let's start with the game's predictable, somewhat lazy tag-line - 'must-win.'
In the rarefied air of the Premier League, every match is amplified tenfold, every result analysed forensically, every decision furiously debated... until the next game.
Thus, conventional sporting hyperbole dictates that this, the tenth game of Ipswich Town's season, against a probable relegation rival, with the Blues still searching for a first victory, has to be a 'must-win'.
That's nonsense, of course, given the amount of games left and points still up for grabs. If Town lose this game, their season isn't over.
But the facts are cold and stark. After nine games - almost a quarter of the season - Town are in the relegation zone, two points behind 17th place Crystal Palace and safety. Leicester, in 15th place and Everton, in 16th, are both five points clear of the Blues. It's already looking like the bottom few sides may get cut adrift.
So, while this game isn't strictly speaking a 'must-win', it's certainly a big one for Town, who will bank on their home matches - in front of an energised and vocal 12th-man - as trump cards in the battle against relegation.
Perhaps 'must not lose' is the more accurate description for this one, from an emotional point of view at least. A win is obviously the goal, but a point would stop the bleeding and give them a platform to build upon.
Under Kieran McKenna and Mark Ashton, what was once Town's Achilles heel - a fragile mentality - has become a super strength.
Where once they crumbled in the face of moderate resistance, they have since shown on multiple occasions that they are now made of sterner stuff - most recently in that pulsating, heartbreaking 4-3 defeat at Brentford last week.
They'll need to run towards adversity again today. They go into this big game with a defence riddled with injuries - chief among them impressive starters Jacob Greaves and Axel Tuanzebe - a keeper who is surely low on confidence, and a growing national narrative that they are no-hopers.
This, then, is a chance to prove once more that they will not roll over nor back down.
It's a great opportunity to plant the Town flag firmly in the Portman Road turf and get a statement result to kick start their season.
We're still close enough to Halloween to use this analogy, right? Because there's no doubt that keeper Aro Muric has been scaring a few Town fans recently.
Brentford's winner last week - a Bryan Mbeumo cross which was allowed to bounce in the box before evading everyone and nestling in the Town net - was certainly frightful.
And sadly Muric has a worrying number of clangers on his fledgling Town resume thus far - along with some absolutely cracking stops and, in the case of Brighton (A) a point-winning performance.
There have been calls from some sections of the fanbase to drop Muric and bring in League One promotion hero Christian Walton, but that doesn't feel like a very Kieran McKenna move.
Regardless, if it is indeed Muric who takes his place between the sticks again today, he'll know all eyes are on him - and Town's brilliant home fans can help lift the big Kosovan.
When you look at Leicester's squad, there are a few names which jump out - top of the list is likely the ageless Red Bull-fuelled striker Jamie Vardy, who's scored four goals already this season at the ripe vintage of 37.
Another would be flashy wing menace Stephy Mavididi, who's netted twice himself this term and bagged against Town on Boxing Day last December.
But for me, as someone who watches Leicester a fair bit due to family connections, the under the radar Fox to fear most can usually be found on the opposite wing to Mavididi.
Ghanian Abdul Fatawu signed from Sporting for £14.6m in the summer after a cracking loan spell at the King Power last season.
The 20-year-old's only started four games so far this campaign, but whenever he's on the pitch he's a threat to make something happen - fast, skilful and with a penchant for cutting inside off the wing and unleashing a rocket.
He's an injury doubt for today, but if he's fit and gets on the pitch, look out.
The man who may start ahead of him today, young Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte, is also very much a danger man. He has three goals to his name thus far.
While Town have had all week off to lick their wounds and tend to their injured after Saturday's soul-stealing defeat at Brentford, Leicester only played on Wednesday night.
And they got tonked 5-2 by Manchester United at Old Trafford in the Carabao Cup, so not ideal preparations.
Admittedly, they made nine changes and only defenders James Justin and Caleb Okoli of their regular XI started the game - but it's still a very quick turnaround for the Foxes.
Would Cooper - who could be banned from the touchline today after getting booked against United - have wanted more time to prepare his side for a big league clash in Suffolk? Probably.
We know that Chiedozie Ogbene (Achilles), Tuanzebe (thumb), Greaves (hamstring) and Jack Taylor (hamstring) won't be fit, while Harry Clarke is suspended after last week's harsh red card.
Skipper Sam Morsy (hamstring) and utility defender Ben Johnson (thigh) are also carrying injuries, so they may not play either.
But Omari Hutchinson, who missed last week's thriller at Brentford with illness, should be fit to return, which is certainly a boost. And Massimo Luongo (ankle) could also return to action after a spell on the sidelines.
I'd expect Muric to start in goal, with Dara O'Shea continuing at right back and Luke Woolfenden and Cameron Burgess starting at CB while Leif Davis looks for more assists from left back.
Jens Cajuste and Kalvin Phillips are Town's only fully fit midfielders, so surely they play - and then it's the usual movable feast for the front four.
Does George Hirst keep his starting spot up top against the team who sold him to Town or does juggernaut Liam Delap come back in? Both have good claims based on form.
Then behind them you'd imagine Hutchinson and Sammie Szmodics will feature somewhere, while Conor Chaplin certainly merits another game after last week's showing.
Could Omari play on the right, Chaplin as the 10 and Szmodics left? That would be an interesting combo.
As ever, we'll find out at 1.45pm.
Ugh. Predicting Town games in the Premier League is a fool's errand. But, as my wife often reminds me, I am that fool.
On paper, this is a winnable game against a side who will likely be in the relegation fight come May.
It's also a game against a team who have probably exceeded expectations so far, while Town are batting injuries and perhaps self-doubt.
Logic tells me a draw - as both games were in the Championship last season - is the most likely outcome, and that wouldn't be a disaster.
I just hope that the Blues can show that trademark resilience once more and really make a statement here.
Against my better judgement, I'll say 2-1 Town.
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