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Leicester City, boss Craig Shakespeare hope to secure Premier League safety

Leicester City are used to getting vital away wins at the Hawthorns. The Foxes have won 3-2 on their past two trips to the west Midlands -- the most notable of which came in 2014-15 at the beginning of their great escape under Nigel Pearson.

This time around, Leicester don't necessarily need a win -- just a point will do to ease any mild relegation concerns. Their 37 points, with a better goal difference to the sides around them, should be enough to secure Premier League safety.

After six straight wins to mark Craig Shakespeare's appointment following the sacking of Claudio Ranieri, the Leicester boss is now winless in five. City have been pretty valiant in their past three losses, including at Arsenal last time out, and they haven't been short of goals on the road either. That's why the Foxes won't be overly concerned by recent form.

Shakespeare will be especially keen to turn things around against his former club, having made more than 100 appearances for the Baggies in the early 1990s before going on to become reserve team coach. He was even caretaker manager for a game, beating Crystal Palace 2-0 in 2007.

Leicester could well be unchanged from their trip to the Emirates. It will all depend on whether captain Wes Morgan is fit, although even if he is eligible to play Yohan Benalouane doesn't deserve to be dropped at the moment. Benalouane is getting better by the game, has curbed his temperament and is looking composed (if at times nonchalant) in possession.

At the other end, Shakespeare must decide whether to persist with target man Leonardo Ulloa or bring Shinji Okazaki back into the side. Ulloa was picked against Arsenal primarily because Leicester came up against a back-three and his physical presence was useful. Tactically, Okazaki might once again be a better strike partner for Jamie Vardy, who can expect a touch more freedom at the Hawthorns.

The only other factor that might prompt changes is fatigue. Albion have had a two-week rest to prepare for the game, and Leicester looked tired in the closing stages against Arsenal, finally caving as Robert Huth cruelly put through his net late on. The likes of Ben Chilwell and Demarai Gray might feature -- either from the start or in the second half if legs do start to tire.

Although Chilwell is a fantastic talent, Shakespeare will probably want to start Christian Fuchs, if only to utilise his long throw. One of the big talking points at Arsenal was whether the former Austria captain intentionally chucked the ball at Alexis Sanchez. The Gunners' playmaker was clearly standing too close to Fuchs, though, and was punished with a swollen lip.

Shakespeare has naturally leapt to the defence of Fuchs, even suggesting officials should use magic spray to ensure opposition players stand the correct distance away. This is of course a crazy and needless idea that would spectacularly slow the game down and leave referees probably needing to carry more than one canister.

Baggies boss Tony Pulis was famous for using Rory Delap's long throw at Stoke, so will be well aware of the weapon Fuchs can pose and will have drilled his side all week to defend it appropriately. Leicester would be wise to sometimes bluff on the long throw and go short down the channels, because once Fuchs has the ball in his hands the hosts could well drop deep expecting the ball to be launched into the box every time.

Leicester might gladly take a draw, but should look to start aggressively to try and get the first goal rather than just park the bus. That's because Albion haven't scored in 375 minutes in the Premier League, so are lacking a bit of confidence in front of goal.

Vardy can empathise with that, but has scored in both of his Premier League appearances at the Hawthorns and will be confident of getting back to scoring ways and continuing his run of seven goals under Shakespeare.

If Vardy finds the back of the net and Leicester defend as well as they did against Arsenal they will surely take something from the game, and if they can again come away with maximum points, safety will be secured -- something that looked highly improbable a couple of months ago.