All you need to know as Bluebirds face up to tough City test...

CARDIFF City host champions Man City in the Welsh capital this afternoon. Here’s everything you need to know about the game...

What time is kick-off?

THE match at Cardiff City Stadium gets underway at 3pm.

Is the game on TV?

THE match will not be broadcast live on television in the UK due to the blackout on matches being shown between 2.45pm and 5.15pm on a Saturday.

But you will be able to follow updates on our live blog which will be on our Cardiff City and Football pages from midday.

As for highlights, they will be shown on Match of the day which starts at 10.30pm on Saturday on BBC One.

They will be repeated on the same channel at 8.25am on Sunday.

What is the latest team news?

THE Bluebirds will be without wing duo Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Josh Murphy for the visit of the defending champions.

And speaking ahead of the match, Neil Warnock also revealed that midfielder Aron Gunnarsson suffered a setback in training this week.

The Iceland international is yet to play for the Bluebirds so far this season and is now set for a further spell on the sidelines following his latest setback.

As for Man City, Belgium star Kevin De Bruyne will miss his side’s trip to South Wales due to the knee injury he suffered during a training session last month.

Left-back Benjamin Mendy has been ruled out of the game due to a problem with a bone in his ankle.

Back-up goalkeeper Claudio Bravo is also a long-term absentee, meaning Kosovan youngster Aro Muric is set to feature on the bench once again as a No.2 to first choice shot stopper Ederson.

Elsewhere, Brazilian full-back Danilo won’t be risked having not played since suffering a foot injury at the World Cup in Russia while youngster Philippe Sandler and centre-back Equalim Mangala are unavailable.

What have the managers said? Neil Warnock

“IT’S very difficult to get a shock against them now,” said Warnock.

“You’ve got to be very lucky with one or two things going for you. I hope we get a handball goal!

“With the fans behind us and the type of team we are, he (Guardiola) knows they’ll be in for a game.”

Pep Guardiola

“THE Premier League is physical, not just Cardiff,” said the Man City boss.

“I realised that immediately when I arrived. I realised how physical the league is.

“We have to adapt so the risk is always there home or away.”

Predicted lineups Cardiff City:

Etheridge; Manga, Morrison (capt.), Bamba, Bennett; Camarasa, Ralls, Arter; Hoilett, Reid, Ward.

Man City:

Ederson; Walker, Stones, Laporte, Delph; Fernandinho, Bernardo Silva, Silva (capt.); Sterling, Aguero, Sane.

What are the latest betting odds? Odds courtesy of Sky Bet, correct at time of publishing.

CARDIFF City win 16/1 DRAW 6/1

MAN City win 1/6

Who is the referee?

MICHAEL Oliver will take charge of proceedings at Cardiff City Stadium.

The Northumberland official was the man in the middle for Man City’s 2-0 win over Arsenal on the opening day of the season while he oversaw Cardiff’s 0-0 draw with Huddersfield Town at the John Smith’s Stadium last month.

What the pundits have said Mark Lawrenson - BBC Sport

MANCHESTER City were very poor in their defeat against Lyon in the Champions League in midweek and their performance was probably more worrying than the result.

It looked like some of their players had switched off, and if any of them are coasting, they are asking for trouble.

If you don’t put the hard yards in, you can be as brilliant as you like but your performance levels are 10-15% down and it is going to cost you.

I saw it happen some seasons at Liverpool after we had won the league. We rectified it after a while but every team in Manchester City’s situation has to deal with it and it is why - certainly in the Premier League - teams have struggled to win the title in consecutive seasons.

As for the game, well these teams met in the FA Cup last season, when Manchester City won and Leroy Sane got clobbered by a Joe Bennett tackle.

I’d expect something similar this time, with Cardiff clattering into them in the nicest possible way and making things as hard as possible for them.

They have got to play to their strengths, because Cardiff are not going to outplay Manchester City at football, are they?

They would get torn apart if they tried although, whatever their approach, this is going to be a tough game for them because I am expecting a big reaction from City following that Lyon defeat.

Prediction: Cardiff City 0-2 Man City Paul Merson - Sky Sports

I REMEMBER Cardiff gave City a real run for their money at home in the FA Cup. Defeat to Lyon in the Champions League will have really dented City’s confidence, Lyon could have picked them off and had four or five.

What I always find with City is that they are a frontrunner kind of team, if they hit the front they are like the Harlem Globetrotters, if they go behind their shape, everything, completely and utterly goes out of the window.

That being said I do expect them to win the game, but Cardiff will make it difficult for them from set plays, there’s no doubt about that.

Cardiff have had a real go and their results haven’t been for the lack of trying, they just lack a bit of guile. (Eden) Hazard was the difference last week against Chelsea, and that’s a