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Match preview
These two East Midlands rivals are located just 25 miles apart but, more pertinently, with the pair level on points in the table, this is a huge game for both.
Nottingham Forest’s revival, winning three of their last seven, has seen the leap out of the relegation zone and up to 15th.
The Reds’ most-recent Premier League outing was ten days ago, a crucial 1-0 victory over Southampton at St Mary’s.
All four of Forest’s league victories this season have been by the same scoreline, with Taiwo Awoniyi the match-winner in three of them.
Since then, Steve Cooper’s side have been hammered by Blackpool in the FA Cup, but have enjoyed far more success in the League Cup.
On Wednesday night, Forest ousted Wolves in penalties, thereby reaching a first major semi-final for 31 years.
Back in the Premier League, will the feel-good factor in Nottingham continue?
In stark contrast, Leicester were dumped out of the Carabao Cup this week, finding Newcastle too hot to handle at St James’ Park.
Meantime, in the Premier League, Brendan Rodgers’ side have lost all three matches since the restart, most-recently beaten at home by Fulham.
Since Christmas, the Foxes’ sole victory came over Gillingham, the side currently rock bottom of the EFL, in the FA Cup last Saturday.
Few would’ve predicted at the start of the season that these two clubs would be level on points approaching the mid-way point of the campaign.
Earlier in the season, Leicester ran riot at the King Power, cruising to a 4-0 win, but, when these two met at the City Ground in the cup 11 months ago, it was Forest who scored four and were victorious.
So, will the Reds make home advantage count?
Nottingham Forest team news
Steve Cooper named his strongest XI against Wolves on Wednesday, so few changes are likely for this match.
However, striker Taiwo Awoniyi has missed the last two games injured, making him highly-unlikely to feature here.
As a result, January arrival Gustavo Scarpa is likely to continue as part of the front three, alongisde Morgan Gibbs-White and Brennan Johnson.
Meanwhile, at centre-back, goal-scorer Willy Boly hobbled off in mid-week, meaning Scott McKenna is likely to be Joe Worrall’s partner.
Johnson and Worrall were both on target when Leicester most-recently visited the City Ground last February.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Henderson; Aurier, Worrall, McKenna, Lodi; Yates, Mangala, Freuler; Scarpa, Gibbs-White, Johnson.
Leicester City team news
The visitors are still without defenders Ricardo Pereira, Jonny Evans and James Justin, as well as creator in chief James Maddison and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
Maddison was exceptional when these two clubs met in October, scoring twice, but hasn’t featured for club or country since hobbling off at West Ham on 12 November.
In attack, Patson Daka is likely to lead the line, despite Kelechi Ịheanachọ being the match-winner at Gillingham last weekend.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Ward; Castagne, Amartey, Faes, Thomas; Ndidi, Tielemans, Pérez, Albrighton, Barnes; Vardy.
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Nottingham Forest vs Leicester City: Match statistics
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