Steve Bruce's side have been out of form at a key time and face a foe currently sitting inside the Championship's top two
Aston Villa will be looking to get a faltering Championship promotion bid back on track when they play host to Neil Warnock's high-flying Cardiff City on Tuesday.
Steve Bruce has positioned his team inside the play-off pack, and victory in midweek would all-but secure their place in the top six.
Villa have, however, collected just one win in five to stunt their momentum at a crucial stage of the season.
Cardiff, in contrast, have suffered just one defeat in their last 14 - although that did come against table-topping Wolves last time out to leave the Bluebirds nine points adrift of the leaders and only two clear of Fulham in third.