– Both teams have scored in five of the last six meetings
– Leicester have won their last three home matches with both teams scoring
– Recommended bet: Leicester to win & both teams to score
Leicester are closing on a Premier League return and they can put one foot back in the top flight with a victory against Southampton.
The Foxes moved back to top spot in the Championship with a 2-1 victory over West Brom on Saturday at the King Power Stadium, and home form has been key to their push for a top-two finish.
Leeds were four points adrift of Leicester in third prior to their trip to Middlesbrough on Monday evening, and a defeat for the Whites at the Riverside would mean Leicester could seal their promotion with a win over the Saints with two games remaining.
Southampton could still finish in the top two but their defeat at Cardiff means they will more than likely have to settle for the play-offs.
Team news
Jamie Vardy and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall played at the weekend despite a knock and illness respectively, while Ricardo Pereira was an unused substitute against West Brom after his own injury issues.
All three should feature on Tuesday, while Kasey McAteer is also in the mix following a long-term absence.
Southampton goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu is set for a long spell on the sidelines after rupturing his Achilles tendon ahead of last week’s game against Preston.
The Saints otherwise have few injury concerns, although Ryan Manning and Kamaldeen Sulemana will be assessed.
The stats
Southampton are winless in their last three away matches and have kept just two clean sheets in their last nine outings.
Leicester have won 16 of their 21 home league matches this season, although they have been far from watertight, with both teams scoring in Leicester’s last five matches at home.
In fact, Leicester have failed to keep a clean sheet in eight matches.
Prediction
Leicester and Southampton can both still secure automatic promotion from the Championship but the Foxes are in the driving seat and could seal their place in the Premier League next season.
A defeat for Leeds on Monday at Middlesbrough would mean a Leicester victory here would be enough to see the 2015 Premier League champions return to the top flight at the first time of asking following their relegation last season.
And, despite a recent wobble, they could stick to their part of the bargain with a win at the King Power Stadium.
Leicester’s home form has been the one constant in a recent roller coaster ride which has seen all three teams at the top throw away crucial points at a key time.
Ipswich are currently second in the table prior to this week’s action but they face a tricky trip to Hull at the weekend, and the top three have all been swapping places in a nervy last few weeks.
Leicester settled themselves with a hard-fought 2-1 win over West Brom at the weekend and a similar outcome looks likely here, with both sides struggling to keep clean sheets and Southampton having failed to win in their last three away matches.