EDDIE Howe predicts Cherries’ showdown with fellow high-fliers Ipswich will be a meeting of “two of the hardest working teams in the Championship”.

Second-placed Cherries host the Blues, who are fourth, in an eagerly-anticipated Dean Court sell-out which is likely to test both clubs’ promotion credentials (3pm).

Cherries start the contest on the back of a run which has seen them win seven and draw one of their past eight league games, while Town have lost just once in 13.

Howe told the Daily Echo: “I think Mick McCarthy is an outstanding manager and I have a lot of time for him and the jobs he has done down the years. Whenever you play one of his teams, you know you are going to have to perform very well to get anything from the game.

“He always sets up his teams very well and they are always incredibly difficult to beat. I think the Ipswich side this season isn’t too dissimilar to the one we faced last season. They are very strong and have players who can hurt you if you aren’t at the top of your game.

“I thought the two games last season were incredibly tight and could have gone either way and I expect no different this time.

“Some of our hallmarks are work rate, commitment and the players’ attitude to the games. I think Ipswich’s mentality is very similar to ours. I am expecting a tough battle between two of the hardest working teams in the Championship and it will be very interesting to see who comes out on top.”

Cherries took 19 points from a possible 21 between the two international breaks and were only replaced at the summit following their 0-0 draw at Middlesbrough 13 days ago.

Howe added: “There are no breaks for a while and there are a lot of games to come. But I think there is a different feel about things now. After the previous break, we played every Saturday and Tuesday but now it is more Saturday to Saturday.

“Training will take on even more importance because you have a bigger gap and we will be able to do more on the training pitch. We are looking forward to this spell and need to make sure we continue to get positive results.”

Howe said Tokelo Rantie would be assessed after he had arrived at Heathrow last night following his exertions with South Africa but confirmed his other players on international duty had all reported back fit.