Three key battles that could determine Boro's clash with Rotherham

Two teams with their own agendas, two teams in need of points at opposite ends of the table.

Boro coasted to victory when these sides met earlier in the season, a stroll to three points against a team usually extremely hard working and difficult to break down.

Steve Evans will be desperate to avoid a repeat of that display this time around, especially with his Rotherham side within touching distance of securing Championship survival.

For Boro, nothing less than three points will do.

Here, we look at three key battles that could determine Boro's game with Rotherham on Saturday.

Adam Clayton v Richie Smallwood

The prospect of Richie Smallwood going head to head with the player he previously partnered in the middle of the park was a mouthwatering one but the flash of yellow that greeted Grant Leadbitter in the final minute at Watford put paid to that.

Still, Smallwood v Clayton is an intriguing battle. Boro's former midfield man locking horns with the man who replaced him in the engine room.

Smallwood insists he doesn't feel he has a point to prove against his former employers but will still undoubtedly arrive at the Riverside with fire in his belly.

Clayton, on the other hand, has the small matter of stepping into the boots of the stand-in-skipper.

The regular middle of the park lieutenant hasn't been at his very best in recent weeks but will have to be in Leadbitter's absence.

Smallwood won't give him an inch. Neither player is known for shying out of a tackle and both will look to dictate the tempo of their side's play.

The Dormo Destroyer v Boro's bearded - well, not quite anymore - battler, a scrap from the off that will be well worth keeping an eye on.

Patrick Bamford v Kirk Broadfoot

Kirk Broadfoot will look back on last summer fondly. He ended the season at crisis club Blackpool but wasn't offered a new contract. Can't imagine he'll look back on that with much regret.

Instead, he moved on and signed for Rotherham United, instantly establishing himself at the heart of the defence.

The dark days at Blackpool was a far cry from the peak of Broadfoot's career, making his debut for Rangers in the Champions League before going on to help the Gers reach the UEFA Cup final.

The days of European football could be behind him but 6ft 3" Broadfoot has played a pivotal part in making sure the Millers don't drop into the third tier.

The 30-year-old has won almost 55% of his aerial duals this year and around 76% of his tackles, as well as making 94 crucial recoveries.

But in Patrick Bamford he will come up against one of the league's form frontmen.

Bamford has scored four goals in his last three appearances at the Riverside, playing a huge part as Boro picked up maximum points in those outings.

He looked isolated and frustrated for long periods at Vicarage Road on Monday but has now started the last five games in a central role.

If AK sticks with the young forward up-top, Broadfoot will have to be at his best to keep him quiet.

Albert Adomah v Ben Pringle

Form flanker v tricky winger.

With seven assists and three goals to his name, Pringle has stepped up from League One to the Championship in impressive fashion this season.

But if he leaves Daniel Lafferty exposed at left-back, Boro's form man Albert Adomah could take advantage.

The Ghanaian flanker is playing his best football of the season so far, if not the best of his Boro career, and has caused left-backs no end of problems in recent weeks.

With Adomah enjoying such a rich vein of form, it's hard to see Aitor Karanka moving him over to the left if he chooses to have a reshuffle of his front four.

Lafferty will be in for a difficult afternoon and, while Ben Pringle is one of the players most likely to cause problems at the other end for the visitors, he'll also have to be switched on and aware of the danger his opposite number poses.