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Loftus Road will be the next destination Premier League ;eaders Manchester City travel to, as Queens Park Rangers attempt to break the Citizens' juggernaut that has ceased to stop since the season got underway. Having dropped only two points to date, City are flying high, and will be looking to keep their distance from the chasing pack, while the indifferent Rangers will be looking for their second major home scalp in succession, this after beating Chelsea at Loftus Road in controversial fashion a fortnight ago. The last time these two teams met at Loftus Road was in 2003 in the Carling Cup, with City picking up a 3-0 victory on that occasion.

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Queens Park Rangers:

Nei Warnock's QPR have been rather mercurial this season, with the promoted side displaying grit to hold onto a lead and pick up a win against Chelsea, and brilliant attacking fluency to beat Wolves 3-0 at the Molineux, Along with that has been a dismal showing at Craven Cottage, where they were torn apart by Fulham 6-0, and hardly posed a challenge against Tottenham last week, going down 3-1. With the influx of new stars during the summer transfer window, a top-ten spot is not out of reach for the ambitious club, and currently lying safe in 12th place, QPR will see the fixture against City as a chance to show their signal of intent.

The Rangers' home form however has been a bit of a disappoint this term, having not won any of their last eight games at Loftus Road before the 1-0 victory against Chelsea. It is againt the Blues that the Anton Ferdinand-John Terry racism incident blew up, and with time passed since that event, one hopes that the Premier League newcomers' concentrations are on the game at hand and not the off-field fracas that they are involved in. Joey Barton will face his ex-club on Saturday, with whom he scaled great success years ago, as will Shaun Wright-Phillips, who was forced to look for a move this summer after his City career was considered over.

QPR have successive away games next, first against Stoke at the Britannia Stadium, and then against fellow promoted side Norwich at Carrow Road.

Manchester City:

As the season moves forward, City's title charge is slowly gaining steam, with people slowly starting to believe and consider City as possible suitors for the Premier League title come May. The 6-1 thrashing they handed out to current champions Manchester United might be cited by many as the reason for City's sudden ascent as number one contenders for top spot, but in fact it is the amazing consistency that Roberto Mancini's side has shown that holds them in good stead with the season slowly unravelling. The Citizens have been going through their games with relative ease, winning always with a little to spare and outscoring their opponents by more than the solitary goal.

City have scored in their last 16 games, while going unbeaten in their last 13, both new records for the Manchester club. They also have scored more goals in their first ten games of the season than any other club has managed in the history of the Premier League, proof of the dominance the Citizens have enjoyed this term. Roberto Mancini again stressed the need to change some of his players to keep his side fresh, but with a break around the corner, the dynamics of his line-up aren't expected to alter too much. City are expected to field a 4-2-3-1 formation, with two holding midfielders ahead of a flat back four, and a single striker in attack with the likes of Sergio Aguero and David Silva lurking around for support.

Manchester City host Newcastle following the international break, after which they travel to Naples in Italy to face Napoli in an important Champions League game.

Head to Head :

28 Oct '03 : Queens Park Rangers 0 - 3 Manchester City
8 Mar '00 : Manchester City 1 - 3 Queens Park Rangers

Form Guide :

Queens Park Rangers (LWDLD)

30 Oct '11 : Tottenham Hotspur 3 - 1 Queens Park Rangers
23 Oct '11 : Queens Park Rangers 1 - 0 Chelsea
15 Oct '11 : Queens Park Rangers 1 - 1 Blackburn Rovers
2 Oct '11 : Fulham 6 - 0 Queens Park Rangers
25 Sep '11 : Queens Park Rangers 1 - 1 Aston Villa

Manchester City (WWWWW)

2 Nov '11 : Villarreal 0 - 3 Manchester City
29 Oct '11 : Manchester City 3 - 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers
26 Oct '11 : Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 - 5 Manchester City
23 Oct '11 : Manchester United 1 - 6 Manchester City
18 Oct '11 : Manchester City 2 - 1 Villarreal

Probable Line-Ups:

Queens Park Rangers (4-4-2) - Kenny, Ferdinand, Gabbidon, Traore, Young, Faurlin, Barton, Wright-Phillips, Taarabt, Helguson, Bothroyd

The hosts have a growing injury list, with Fitz Hall's injury against Tottenham joining him with the likes of Shaun Derry, Akos Buszaky, Rob Hulse and DJ Campbell on the treatment table. Adel Taarabt, suffering from a stomach complaint himself, has arguably been QPR's biggest disappointment this season, looking a shadow of his former self that helped him carry the Rangers to the Premier League and won him plaudits from all sections. The wantaway midfielder has looked disinterested, and it is left to be seen how patient Warnock can be with him. The manager could employ a two-man strikeforce, with former City men Shaun Wright-Phillips and Joey Barton key players in the Rangers midfield. At the back, Danny Gabbidon is expected to partner Anton Ferdinand in place of Hall.

Manchester City (4-2-3-1) - Hart, Lescott, Savic, Clichy, Richards, De Jong, Barry, Yaya Toure, Silva, Aguero, Dzeko

Skipper Vincent Kompany will miss the game at Loftus Road, serving the one-game suspension he received after getting sent off against Wolves last weekend. Stefan Savic is expected to take his place, partnering Joleon Lescott at center-half. Mancini has been shuffling around his fullback options all season, and is expected to do the same on Saturday. Gareth Barry was rested against Villarreal in midweek, and is expected to return to the midfield, while two-goal hero Yaya Toure is a sure starter, as he has been all season. David Silva was substituted in midweek after suffering a back injury, and is an unsure starter, while it is again a toss-up between Edin Dzeko and Mario Balotelli for a starting spot upfront.

Prediction: The QPR defence has sometimes been at sixes and sevens this season, and will need to produce a strong display to keep the unrelenting Manchester City attack quiet. With Vincent Kompany missing, there is a weakness in the City backline that could be exploited if QPR can use the ball well. Points however are very unlikely for the hosts on Saturday, especially with the Citizens in fine fiddle, with the league leaders are expected to stretch their unbeaten league run to 14 games.

Predicted Scoreline: Queens Park Rangers 0 - 2 Manchester City