ALAN Lee goes in search of a career best 17th goal of the season against Barnsley tomorrow.The former Rotherham striker pits his wits against a team that used to be local rivals in south Yorkshire looking to improve on an already steady campaign for the striker who has climbed to 15th position overall in the Actim Index - the Official Player Ratings of the Championship.

By Derek Davis

ALAN Lee goes in search of a career best 17th goal of the season against Barnsley tomorrow.

The former Rotherham striker pits his wits against a team that used to be local rivals in south Yorkshire looking to improve on an already steady campaign for the striker who has climbed to 15th position overall in the Actim Index - the Official Player Ratings of the Championship.

Lee, who converted an Owen Garvan pass from close range to register his 15th league goal of the season, is currently the 10th highest-ranked striker in the Index after his performances this season. Actim Stats reveal that the Republic of Ireland international has contributed 68 shots, 70 tackles, 17 clearances, 12 interceptions, 38 dribbles, 32 crosses and three assists this season.

Lee will start alongside Jon Walters against the Tykes tomorrow with Francis Jeffers likely to make an appearance from the bench in the second half after recovering from a hamstring tear.

Jason De Vos, Gary Roberts, Gavin Williams, Billy Clarke and Walters, have been nursed through the week with slight knocks and strains, but all should be fit to play in at least one of the games over the weekend.

Jordan Rhodes bagged a brace for the second week running for the reserves against Leyton Orient and keeps his place in the squad as he gains experience. Alex Bruce is Ipswich Town's second highest-ranked player in 92nd position. The 22-year-old defender has won 63 tackles and cleared the ball 72 times this season. He has also made 40 interceptions, 23 blocks, five dribbles, 24 crosses and 176 passes in 3,243 minutes of football.

With Dan Harding serving the second of his two-match ban, Fabian Wilnis will keep his place, but might be rested on Monday.

Magilton has warned his side that with Barnsley scrapping for survival they will need to be on top of their game or risk embarassment.

He said: “There will be an edge to the game. Sometimes players can switch off, but my players will know they can't afford to do that because Barnsley are in a fight for their lives and have a real desire to win the game.

“Unless we match them in that desire we could be in trouble. For 45 minutes against Plymouth we were the better side, but then they took the game to us and we let our standards slip.

“Our lads need to go out and show our supporters they are desperate to play for Ipswich Town and do better than they have done. If they produce performances that we know they can, then we can do really well at this level.”

Ipswich Town (from): Price, Supple, Wright, Wilnis, Sito, Bruce, De Vos, Miller, Richards, Roberts, Garvan, Williams, O'Callaghan, Peters, Haynes, Lee, Walters, Jeffers, Clarke, Rhodes.