Cardiff striker Jay Bothroyd could return after a hamstring problem, while Craig Bellamy is likely to be involved having rested his knee.
Danny Drinkwater and Chris Burke have been ill and will be assessed.
MATCH PREVIEW
Cardiff's jitters continued with a 4-1 defeat at Watford last time out. It was their third consecutive away loss and did nothing to ease the pressure on manager Dave Jones, who is keen to add to his squad in January and has been trying to complete the signing of striker James Vaughan from Everton.
Yet despite winning only one of their last six matches, Cardiff still find themselves in the automatic promotion places. But they are seven points behind leaders QPR, and recent history is not on the Bluebirds' side, as the club entering the new year in second place in the Championship has gone on to win promotion only once in the last four years.
But recent history is definitely on their side against Bristol City, who have lost their last three matches against Cardiff and were unceremoniously walloped 6-0 by them on the Welsh team's last visit to Ashton Gate, almost a year ago.
The Robins, who are 19th in the table, are also enduring a bad spell, and have taken a total of one point from their last three matches. But they are strong at home, having gone seven games without defeat on their own patch.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• Cardiff are unbeaten in eight games against Bristol City (W5, D3).
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• Bristol City's last win against Cardiff was a 1-0 home victory in December 2007.
Bristol City
• Of their 12 home league matches this season, Bristol City have won four, drawn four and lost four.
• Their return of 27 points from 23 games is four points fewer than they had at the same stage of last season.
• The Robins have not lost their opening match of a calendar year since 2003.
Cardiff
• Cardiff have not started a new year with a defeat since Reading thrashed them 5-1 on 2 January 2006.
• Their halfway total of 40 points is three more than they had at the same stage of last season, and their best since winning promotion in 2003.
• The Bluebirds have won six away games this season - a feat matched only by strugglers Scunthorpe.
• Craig Bellamy is two goals away from the 150th of his club career, while a goal for Peter Whittingham would be his 50th.
• If selected, Stephen McPhail will be making his 150th league appearance for the club.
Source: BBC Sport
Source: BBC Sport