Manchester City midfielder Gareth Barry knows the connections they have with QPR will give today's game an extra edge.

The England international will be taking nothing for granted against a side still requiring a result to ensure their top-flight survival, managed by former City boss Mark Hughes and with City old boys Joey Barton, Nedum Onuoha and Shaun Wright-Phillips among their playing ranks.

"It's going to be a really hard game," he said. "We're playing a QPR side who still need a point for survival and we need one more big effort from the players.

"I've got a lot of respect for Mark Hughes, he had faith in me to sign me three summers ago. I'm hopeful they can stay up but obviously we've got our eyes on the big prize, and that's beating QPR at the weekend.

"I speak to Nedum, when he left he said his worst nightmare would be for QPR to come in struggling for survival and us with a chance to win the league, so I'll leave the texts for after the game."