In-form Nottingham Forest will again be without strike trio Dexter Blackstock, Robert Earnshaw and Nathan Tyson when Bristol City visit the City Ground.

Blackstock, whose last-minute goal saw the Reds win last season's corresponding fixture, is nursing an ankle injury while Earnshaw is still carrying a calf problem.

Tyson joined them on the sidelines last weekend when he suffered a calf injury in training that ruled him out of the draw at Cardiff.

Billy Davies, who is in the running for the manager of the month award following Forest's seven-game unbeaten run, hopes all three players will be fit for the trip to Middlesbrough after the international break.

Defenders Joel Lynch and James Perch will have benefited from another week of full training following illness and a long-term shin injury respectively.

Defender Bradley Orr is poised to return to Bristol City's starting line-up for their clash with Forest.

Orr missed last weekend's draw with Sheffield Wednesday with the calf injury suffered against Barnsley the week before, and he could replace midfielder Cole Skuse who has been deputising for him.

City go into the clash sitting in fifth place in the table and could end the weekend in second depending on other results.

The Robins are unbeaten at home in 19 games, but have only one once on their travels this season, so manager Gary Johnson will be looking for them to improve their away form, starting against the Trees.

Liam Fontaine is again set to sit out with an ankle injury while Brian Wilson (shin) is a long-term absentee.