Must City win this game? Oh yes. Failure to beat Burnley at home would not only leave the Tigers in serious danger of relegation, it’d be hard to accept that we deserve anything else. Burnley at home represents about the easiest fixture that the 2009/10 Premier League can present. Butchered 6-1 at home last week, in abysmal form and with the terminally useless Brian Laws in charge, challenges don’t come much weaker than this.

Hoping to capitalise will be a City side that may feature a surprise appearance by George Boateng. His whole season appeared in jeopardy as he lay stricken on the turn at Stoke last weekend, yet Temporary Football Management Consultant (heh) Iain Dowie believes the experienced midfielder may be fit to start. Ibrahima Sonko may also be included – he was ineligible to play at Stoke but after his remarkably assured display against Fulham a fortnight ago, Dowie may opt to restore him at the centre of defence.

Unlikely to feature is Stephen Hunt, whose mysterious foot injury is no nearer to being explained beyond a prognosis that we shouldn’t expect him the side tomorrow. Liam Cooper is also struggling with the injury that kept him out six days ago.

Burnley have few worries on that score. Jordan and McCann will likely be sidelined, but their woes are entirely on-field. Since the stormy 2-0 victory over the Tigers in October that seemed – at the time – certain to end Phil Brown’s time with City, they’ve seen their manager and form flee, and have just one victory in 22 games. That’s plunged them firmly in the relegation zone, three points behind City and four from safety. Defeat for them at the Circle tomorrow and one would have to assume it’s game over for the Clarets. We must be truthful: Hull City away doesn’t represent the hardest assignment for Burnley, and they’ll be viewing this match as offering a final chance at redemption.

Past history favours the Tigers, a little. Meetings have been relatively infrequent of late, though Burnley have been goalless in their last four visits to this side of the country – not since a 2-1 win at Boothferry Park in 1994 have they scored here. This season’s fixture saw the Tigers play terribly against a – then – impressive Burnley side, though referee Mike Jones’ contribution was hardly insignifcant. Martin Atkinson is in charge tomorrow, his first visit here since the 3-2 win over Everton last year.

A sold-out Circle and a fraught afternoon await. With West Ham at home to Sunderland and therefore themselves in possession of a winnable game, victory for the Tigers is imperative. By 5pm tomorrow, we’ll be much closer to knowing which division City will be lining up in next season.