Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

This is not Neil Warnock's first return to Cardiff City Stadium since he left his role as Bluebirds manager in November 2019, but it will be the first with fans here to see him.

Warnock may be in opposition colours today, but the expectation is that the veteran Middlesbrough boss will receive a warm welcome.

He had three years at Cardiff, steering the club to promotion to the Premier League in 2018 thanks to a second-placed Championship finish.

Cardiff were relegated the following season and Warnock departed after a mixed start to life back in the second tier, but he is fondly remembered in the Welsh capital.

Joe Ledley
Former Wales midfielder on BBC Radio Wales

I think the damage is done with Mick now. I'll be surprised if he's still manager after Middlesbrough.

Especially with this week leading up to Stoke and the transfer window coming, I think whatever Mick does today he'll be gone.

It's disappointing because all I hear about former players who've played under him is promising things.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Mick McCarthy has become used to answering questions about his job security in recent weeks.

He said in his pre-match press conference he had no idea whether Middlesbrough's visit to Wales might be his last game as Cardiff City boss.

All we can say for sure is that after a dreadful run of seven successive league defeats - Cardiff's worst sequence since 1934 - McCarthy could really do with a win.

Michael Pearlman
BBC Sport Wales at the Cardiff City Stadium

Obviously the result is all that matters, but Mick McCarthy has made some eye-catching calls in a match he simply has to win.

No Kieffer Moore. No Sean Morrison.

Midfielders Joe Ralls and Leandro Bacuna remain sidelined with injury and you sense Boro boss Neil Warnock will be incredibly excited to play in front of the Cardiff City fans again.

"My people," he calls them.

A really intriguing stage set here.

Neil Warnock makes two changes to the side which started Wednesday's win over Barnsley, with Uche Ikpeazu and Onel Hernandez in for Isaiah Jones and Duncan Watmore.

Andraz Sporar is fit to keep his place, while former Cardiff stars Sol Bamba and Lee Peltier both start.

Middlesbrough: Lumley, McNair, Bamba, Peltier, Tavernier, Crooks, Howson (c), Hernandez, Sporar, Payero, Ikpeazu.

Subs: Daniels, Olusanya, Watmore, Lea Siliki, Kokolo, Jones, Coburn.

Cardiff manager Mick McCarthy has made a big call by dropping Kieffer Moore to the bench, with Mark Harris and James Collins coming recalled alongside Ciaron Brown.

Youngster Sam Bowen also drops out of the side which started at Fulham in midweek, along with Joel Bagan. Youngster Eli King is on the bench.

Cardiff: Smithies, Ng, McGuiness, Flint (c), Brown, Vaulks, Pack, Colwill, Giles, Collins, Harris.

Subs: Phillips, Morrison, Nelson, King, Evans, Davies, Moore.

Image source, Getty Images

Hello and welcome to south Wales, where Cardiff City meet Middlesbrough in today's early kick-off in the Championship.

We are not short on subplots this lunchtime, with Mick McCarthy fighting to save his job as Cardiff boss after a desperate run of seven successive defeats.

Who is McCarthy up against as he chases a much-needed win? His old mate Neil Warnock, who led Cardiff to the Premier League in 2018.

We'll take you through all the build-up and action at the Cardiff City Stadium, but let's start with a look at the teams.