QPR boost as Birmingham City face 'crucial dilemma' ahead of six-pointer

It's set to be a huge week for QPR as Marti Cifuentes' side prepare for what could be a season-defining Good Friday meeting with fellow Championship strugglers Birmingham City at Loftus Road.

Sitting just two places and one point above the relegation zone, every fixture between now and the end of the campaign counts for the Rs with the visit of Sheffield Wednesday to London on the horizon too. First, however, is the match against the Blues, who are one place and one point below QPR in 21st.

A home win for the Rs would open up a welcome gap between the side and the bottom of the table, and the home team may be expected to do just that given the predicament Birmingham City find themselves in. The Midlands outfit haven't won since Tony Mowbray was forced to step back from his role due to a medical issue in mid February.

Gary Rowett has now been appointed into the position on an interim basis and will lead Birmingham City for the first time in the six-pointer against QPR. Not only does he have a task at hand to find form once again, but Birmingham Live reports that he has a 'crucial' and 'pressing' dilemma in midfield too.

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Birmingham stars Jordan James and Paik Seung-ho have been on international duty and unable to meet Rowett due to their Wales and South Korea commitments.

The duo are expected to be back with their club on Wednesday and will have just 48 hours to understand the Rowett system before the QPR match - with Thursday's session expected to be a 'light one'. Rowett could turn elsewhere but Andre Dozzell is on loan from QPR and therefore ineligible to face his parent club. Juninho Bacuna is another option but is also on international duty.

Birmingham Live adds that Rowett had previously shared praise for Krystian Bielik and Ivan Sunjic but the former is struggling with injury. It seems likely that Sunjic will face the Rs with Gary Gardner potentially coming in.