Preston North End will be looking to avenge the 4-0 defeat inflicted at Loftus Road in the first half of the season when the Whites entertain QPR at Deepdale on Saturday.
The Lilywhites go into the game on the back of two unlucky away defeats to West Brom and Middlesbrough so will be looking for maximum points in the first of two consecutive home games.
North End currently lie 15th in the Championship table on 48 points, two points ahead of Neil Warnock's visiting outfit who sit in 17th.
It is a must win game for both clubs who will be looking to urgently reach the 52 point mark which most managers consider the Championship safe-zone.
Saturday could also see new loan man Elliott Ward make his first league appearance in a North End shirt. But with Youl Mawene fit again following a groin problem it will give the gaffer plenty to think about as the game inches closer.
The last time QPR won at Deepdale was in 1979-80 campaign, so North End will be looking to keep up the 30 year tradition against the Hoops.
Co-incidentally the last QPR player to score on Deepdale soil was the former Preston front-man Patrick Agyemang on the final day of the 2008-09 season.
Likewise last years game against the Londoners was Preston's 4,500th league game since forming as a football club.
But the significance of the occasion was over-shadowed by PNE spectacularly reaching the play-offs following Cardiff's 1-0 away defeat to Sheffield Wednesday.
The win, in which Sean St. Ledger and Jon Parkin grabbed North End's goals in the 2-1 victory, sparked a mass pitch invasion bringing back scenes of the Birmingham Play-off semi-final second leg in 2001.
Preston North End versus Queens Park Rangers
Coca-Cola Championship
Saturday 27th March 2010
Deepdale
Gaffer's Views
"I have got good problems for Saturday. Youl Mawene is definitely fit and Paul Coutts is fit, probably. Obviously Billy Jones is fit; he came back on Tuesday night. So we are looking back to nearly a full squad. Obviously we still have the long term ones out but everything seems to be ok.
"It is good with Elliott [Ward] coming in the building as well. He will feature on Saturday in some capacity but it is good problems to have definitely. We want everyone chomping at the bit for a game. Darren Carter came in the other night, who hasn't played for a while, and did really well so I'm pleased with that.
"Elliott [Ward] is a good footballer - it was only when we played Doncaster I thought 'god he is a big lad'! He doesn't appear from a distance to be that tall but he's a good size, a good physique and can play - there's no doubt about that. So he ticks a lot of the right boxes I am looking for in a centre-half.
"Obviously his current contract situation helps, he's out of contract in the summer so there's a possibility it can be a permanent deal. The lad's not on a trial or anything, we know enough about him, he was one I was keen to get in."
The Opposition
Queens Park Rangers are currently loitering only seven points off the Championship's relegation zone having had a mixed season both on and off the pitch.
The Hoops have seen four managers come in and out of Loftus Road this term before appointing Warnock as gaffer at the beginning of March. Couple this with the departure of ex-owner Flavio Briatore, who was at the club two-and-a-half years, and you can understand why QPR have failed to capitalise on their good start to the season.
The club is now under the control of the Mittal family who are amongst the richest people in the world. Lakshmi Mittal is said to be the richest person in Europe and is ranked fifth in the world with an estimated wealth of £19.04 Billion.
On the field and things are starting to take shape for Rangers who have only lost one in their last six since Warnock was made manager. From these games QPR have picked up nine points out of a possible 18 after winning two and drawing three. One of the wins included a fine 3-1 home triumph over second place West Brom.
Ranger's last game was at home to Brian Clough's Derby County in which neither side could find the killer blow having to settle for a 1-1 stalemate.
In fact when the clubs met earlier this term, only 12 games into the regular season, North End were sitting in the final play-off spot in sixth place while QPR were hovering in tenth.
In what resulted in a 4-0 whitewash in favour of the London club, it was made clear that their attacking threats come from loan men Jay Simpson from Arsenal and Adel Taarabt of Tottenham.
Opposition Manager
"It was a blatant penalty. I don't need a TV crew to tell me his shirt was being pulled.
"I asked the referee and he told me he didn't see it, but he saw everything else all night.
"He's a young lad and do you have to tell him to cheat and go down, is that the only way to get a penalty?
"It knocked him off his stride. He's frustrated because he knows he would have scored."
Neil Warnock talking to the BBC following the R's 1-1 draw at home to Derby County
Opposition Player
"I am delighted to be here, all I want to do is play games and hopefully I will get that chance here.
"I have watched some QPR matches and there are some very good players here."
New loan signing Dusko Tosic talks to the QPR official website after joining from Premier League strugglers Portsmouth.
Head-to-Head
PNE's all time record against QPR W11 D12 L9
PNE's home record against QPR W6 D6 L3
Last Meeting
Queens Park Rangers 4 Preston North End 0
(Taarabt 11, Buszaky 63, Simpson 74, Routledge 85)
Saturday 17th October 2009
Coca-Cola Championship
Loftus Road
PNEBetting.com Odds
Preston 5/4, Draw 23/10, QPR 11/5
PNEBetting.com Selected Bet
Ross Wallace to score first and Preston to win 3-1, 115/1
PNE Player
Saturday's game will be brought to you by Simon Crabtree and Andy Fensome. Team news will be made available at around 2pm and the show will start at 2.45pm.
Any Other Business?
Brian McBride's only goal for PNE came against Saturday's visitors in a staggering 5-0 win for the Whites on 10th February 2001. The other scorers that day were Jon Macken, netting two, along with David Healy and Ian Anderson.
