St Andrew's, Saturday 1500 GMTBIRMINGHAM CITY:
The immense financial windfall provided by Carson Yeung's takeover of Birmingham has generated the kind of dangerous situation that a toddler encounters - the temptation to run before you can walk.
About £40m is available to manager Alex McLeish in the January transfer window - rather like giving Paris Hilton a new platinum credit card just in time for the post Christmas sales.
The overriding emotion is to spend, spend, spend in the boom and bust Premier League, but McLeish prefers a more pragmatic approach and is an advocate of gradual investment and meticulously planned development of the team. If his Hong Kong owners need a model, then he suggests they look no further than Fulham.
Their next opponents may well have rich ownership in the shape of Mohammed Al Fayed, but they have not been ostentatious with their money while building a firm foundation at the highest level.
"They are a great example of how to build year-on-year and a club that we should try to emulate. They have stabilised themselves in the top division and they are now playing in Europe," said McLeish.
"Their finances have been far better than ours until recent times. While they have spent some money, they have been sensible about it. We need to do the same and buy quality and develop at the right pace."
The visit of Fulham starts a run of eight games in five weeks for Birmingham, a spell that McLeish knows will test his squad to the limit before the opportunity to flex their financial muscle. Half of the fixtures are against sides in the bottom half of the table.
"It is an important period and one that will test us all. Quite a few of the games coming are the kind that we will ultimately be judged on," said McLeish.
Strategy: Finally, McLeish seems to have found a settled system that can carry a threat as well as maintain defensive efficiency thanks to the growing partnership between Scott Dann and Roger Johnson. Much will depend on which Cameron Jerome turns up.
The former Cardiff striker has all the attributes to be a huge success at this level. His spectacular individual goal in the draw at Anfield showcased his explosive capabilities, but all too often a good performance is followed swiftly by an infuriating one. His pace will certainly worry Fulham and his increasing understanding with Christian Benitez is more reason for the visitors to be fearful.
Injury Update: Garry O'Connor's hip injury is likely to sideline him for several weeks and Stuart Parnaby has not fully recovered from a back problem. Teemu Tainio (knee) is also doubtful. Keith Fahey (knee) faces a late fitness test and Martin Taylor is looking for a chance to return to the squad following a knee injury that has kept him out until now.
FULHAM:
Roy Hodgson's side are quietly moving through the gears and, while they remain one place outside the top half of the table, an unbeaten run of five league games suggests that Fulham could soon be clinging to the coat tails of the leading group. Their hopes of extending that run at Birmingham, however, haven't been helped by the events in Paris this week where Damien Duff and Stephen Kelly were part of the Republic of Ireland squad denied the chance to progress to next summer's World Cup finals by Thierry Henry's glaring handball.
Hodgson admits both players were disconsolate on their return. "It will take a long time for the pain to pass because to be so close to a World Cup and not get there on a clearly incorrect refereeing decision there is clearly nothing you can say that make the pain any easier for them," said the manager.
Fulham's chances of repeating last season's seventh-placed finish are inevitably reduced this season following the emergence of Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, but with Hodgson and centre back Brede Hangeland reportedly on the verge of signing new deals, there is a growing sense of optimism at Craven Cottage.
Hodgson, 62, is out of contract at the end of this season and has been a target for both Norway and Sweden who have attempted to lure the former Switzerland manager back into international football but he currently looks set to stay in west London, a move that would please US forward Clint Dempsey.
"If things are working, as they are, you don't want them to change but these are discussions for people higher up in the club," he said. "'I enjoy playing for him [Hodgson]. I like the staff we have here – they do a good job of preparing us for each game. We have a good shape and are a hard team to break down."
Strategy: With Andrew Johnson yet to fully recover from a groin problem, Hodgson has struggled to find the right system and personnel. Bobby Zamora remains a constant threat as a useful target-man while Erik Nevland, Diomansy Kamara nor wideman Dempsey have managed to stake a serious claim alongside him. The midfield group work tirelessly – a cornerstone of Hodgson's side – leaving little room for the opposition's playmakers to create. It will be a tight affair with chances once again at a premium, which will probably suit the visitors.
Injury update: Kamara continues to struggle with a knee injury and will miss out, joining Johnson and Danny Murphy on the sidelines. Murphy was back in training at the end of this week but the trip came too soon for him to be considered.
Join the FanHouse UK Twitter conversation
Add #fanhouseuk to your tweets and join our matchday Twitter chat
