Middlesbrough's Scott McDonald, who recently underwent a hernia operation, is unlikely to feature on Saturday. But Chris Killen is expected to return to the squad after recovering from the hamstring problem and virus which have kept him out of the last three games.
QPR defender Matt Connolly has a knock and faces a fitness test, while Peter Ramage should overcome an abdominal strain in time to join the squad.
Mikele Leigertwood is available again after serving a three-match ban.
MATCH PREVIEW
After a difficult start to his tenure, Gordon Strachan picked up his first victory as Middlesbrough manager when his side crushed troubled QPR 5-1 at Loftus Road in December.
Mick Harford, meanwhile, won his first match since taking the reins at Loftus Road again when Rangers ended a horrific run by beating Doncaster last weekend.
But, barring a spectacular win that might make the QPR board think there is no urgent rush to pay Crystal Palace the compensation they want for Neil Warnock, this will be Harford's last game at the helm.
Rangers are expected to appoint Warnock next week. Before that, they have the task of facing a Boro side which has struggled at the Riverside this season but are unbeaten in their last five matches there.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• The winning side has scored five in each of the last two meetings between these clubs. QPR, beaten 5-1 by Boro this season, won 5-0 against them at Loftus Road in March 1998.
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• Boro have never done the double over the R's, whose win at Ayresome Park in January 1993 is their only away victory against them in over 30 years.
Middlesbrough
• Boro have lost their last two matches and 10 of their 20 since Gordon Strachan became manager.
• The Teessiders have failed to score in more home games than any other club in the Championship (eight).
• They have scored 13 fewer goals at home than on their league travels (15 at the Riverside, 28 on the road).
Queens Park Rangers
• QPR have lost their last three away matches without scoring a goal.
• They have not kept a clean sheet since the 4-0 win over Preston on 17 October. That 20-match run is the longest in the entire Football League.
• Rangers have scored 27 goals at home and conceded 27 away in the league this season.
MOST RECENT MEETING
QPR 1-5 Middlesbrough (5 December)
QPR scorer: Agyemang 53.
Boro scorers: Kitson 31, Lita 50 (pen), 60, O'Neil 75, Yeates 87.
Source: BBC Sport
Source: BBC Sport