The Teessiders haven’t won for eight league games and will be the underdogs at the Riverside Stadium. Our Boro writer Joe Nicholson has picked the starting XI he would choose to face the Whites – scroll down and flick through our picture gallery to see if you agree with his selections:
![Hasn't had many shots to save despite a run of eight games without a clean sheet.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjNlOWE1ZmI3LTRlYjItNDVmMi1iNjE3LTcxYjlmMmRiYzE1YTo2YjVjMmRlYy1hYzkxLTRjZGMtYjk2OS01ZGUyNTQ1MjUzNjI=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
1. GK: Aynsley Pears
Hasn't had many shots to save despite a run of eight games without a clean sheet. Photo: George Wood
![Dropped out of the squad at Barnsley where Boro looked short of pace and energy on the flanks.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmIxYzRmZWQ5LTgxYjMtNDg3Mi05ZjEyLWMwZmRjOWI4NDc2YzpkNDExNTFlZC02YWMwLTQ5OGMtOTkzMi1jYTk5MWU0NzVjYWE=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
2. RWB: Djed Spence
Dropped out of the squad at Barnsley where Boro looked short of pace and energy on the flanks. Photo: Justin Setterfield
![Boro's most consistent performer this season. Has looked comfortable on the right of a back three.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjhjNzQ5MDJmLTcwNjctNDk0ZC04YzlkLTQ2MDA4NmVjNzIzNTo0Y2VkZGQ3Ny00NTgwLTQ3ZjEtOTYyNy0xY2ViNDYzZTI5NmE=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
3. CB: Jonny Howson
Boro's most consistent performer this season. Has looked comfortable on the right of a back three. Photo: Alex Livesey
![One of the few Boro players who came away with some credit at Barnsley.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjlmNDllY2YzLWFjNzYtNDgyZS1hYWM5LTE3ZWQwMzhjMWM1Nzo1NjY4NDRmNS02NzJmLTQzZDYtODVhMy1lZTgzZjljYzRiNmI=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
4. CB: Harold Moukoudi
One of the few Boro players who came away with some credit at Barnsley. Photo: Julian Finney