QPR vs Fulham: Matt Phillips and Tom Cairney go head-to-head - who will win the derby day battle?

Matt Phillips and Tom Cairney are expected to be the two creative forces as Fulham and QPR go head-to-head this Saturday lunch time at Loftus Road.

The two have provided the delicate touches behind the front lines on numerous occasions this season and the pressure will be on both to make the difference this time as well.

With Fulham hovering above the relegation zone in 19th, three points in the west London derby could kick-start the Whites season and Cairney's performance could further the hope.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink recorded his first win last weekend thanks to Phillips' late winner against Ipswich, and the new gaffer will be hoping to see more of the same from the pacy winger against Fulham.

QPR did well to hold on to Phillips in the January transfer window after he was subject to interest from a number of Premier League sides as well as promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough.

Cairney on the other hand was a marquee signing for Fulham last summer and the 24-year-old has impressed this season notching up three goals and four assists.

Fulham struggled in blustery conditions last weekend against Derby and Cairney and keeper Andy Lonergan decided they would rather play in torrential rain rather than the unpredictable wind.

"It's part of the job and it was so hard playing in the wind. It was blowing away from me. We've played well against two of the best teams in the league so it's a step in the right direction for us,” Lonergan explained.

“Not just for me. I was saying to Tom Cairney that we'd rather it absolutely bucket it down like against Ipswich at home.

“The weather is so unpredictable. There are balls that you think are yours and then you end up not getting there, and there are balls that are never yours but, a split second later, they're on top of you.”