Boss Steve Cooper and Leicester City Football Club both have an equally huge match on the horizon. This coming Friday, the Welshman plays the team whose fans at one stage adored him as manager. And this very outfit just happen to be an occasionally fiery Midlands rival of the Foxes, Nottingham Forest. Yet when putting past allegiances, old grudges and even sentimentality aside for one moment, you realise that this fixture is actually massive for either side. That is in terms of development, safety, proof and self belief.
How it's going for Nottingham Forest and Leicester City
As preseason got underway on Filbert Way for Leicester, fans became increasingly concerned and disturbed by what they saw on the pitch. Cooper and his men hadn't actually started the proper season when warning signs and consequently criticism began.
You see, much of the City support weren't overly keen on Cooper to begin with. Any person who managed Forest, Derby County, Aston Villa, Coventry, or even Birmingham City wouldn't be too welcome at King Power Stadium on general principle. In spite of what small factions of their delusional, vocal and irritating supporters believe, there is a rivalry between LCFC and the aforementioned groups.
Nevertheless, there are enough level-headed members amongst the Foxes faithful for the 44-year-old to be given a chance as Leicester gaffer. But he would always be judged more swiftly, as well as fiercely, than someone with no connection to England's Midlands coming in. Strange as that may seem to those who didn't grow up in England, or to those who are unaware tribalism remains in the year 2024.
Forest, meanwhile, are now a stable organisation under Nuno Espírito Santo. The studious appearing Portuguese is different to Cooper in the subtlety stakes, but both appear to be students of the game. A solid defence is the staple that people now notice about the Tricky Trees.
If the 50-year-old has his way, this match will be low scoring. Although Cooper's Leicester have other ideas: LCFC have been more free flowing and deadly in attack of late. We all know that is the utmost aspect of a side - even over defensive stability.
Where the two fairly evenly matched seeming clubs can end up in victory
Leicester City can consolidate a finely poised but buoyant top half Premier League position if they beat their foe on Friday evening. City could leapfrog Newcastle United into ninth - one spot behind Forest. While a win sends the home team up to an impressive fifth place.