Aidy Boothroyd is toying with the idea of switching to a 4-3-3 formation at Home Park today (Saturday).

In the absence of John Eustace, his midfield enforcer, Boothroyd is contemplating fortifying his midfield and increasing the protection in front of the defence by playing the fit-again Al Bangura, John-Joe O'Toole and Lee Williamson.

Tommy Smith and Jobi McAnuff would provide the width and play in a more advanced role to support Darius Henderson, the lone striker.

"We can go to a three if I think it needs beefing up a little," said Boothroyd. "I like the three but I don't think we have had the time or the personal to work at it. There are several ways to play it; you can play three up front or play the Dutch 4-3-3. I think at this stage it's about winning and we've got to find different ways to win."

Should Boothroyd persist with his favoured 4-4-2 then Lee Williamson is likely to get the nod to replace Eustace. However the manager has not ruled out playing Bangura, who played so well at Ipswich, and even Douglas Rinaldi, the forgotten man.

"Lee is the mix and so is Al and I've not tried Douglas Rinaldi yet this year," he said. "We've also got Gareth Williams and Damien Francis, although they are not ready yet.

"They are two or three weeks away. Al has been terrific when he has come into the team, particularly at Ipswich. The onus is on the opposition to come at us and therefore it might actually help us having a more athletic player in mdifeld to stop what's coming at us."

With regards to Rinaldi, Boothroyd said: "I tend to put people on the moon and then fly them back in again. It's a credit to the player for remaining fit and focused. It's never say never with any player because I like to think I'm flexible; I don't fall out with people, I just tell people how it is."

Boothroyd will not need to be told how close the race for promotion is. Hull have now turned the race to the Premiership into a five-horse race and only five points separate the top five sides.

Watford's automatic promotion credentials will undergo a searching examination at the hands of Plymouth and Hull, the two form horses in the Championship, over the next week.

"Every game is big at this stage," said Boothroyd. "If Plymouth can take points off us then they will think they have a great chance of making the play-offs and it's the same with Hull. We are going for automatic promotion and we have to make sure we are difficult to beat and win more than we draw.

"It was important we didn't lose the last two games. We've got a game in hand, we've got points on the board and we just need to get a little winning run going."

Plymouth will be hell bent on ending Watford's unbeaten streak and avenging the last year's FA Cup quarter-final defeat.

"It will be very intimadating down there," said Boothroyd. "I like going down there, although they don't like us very much. It will be a tough game as Paul is a very astute manager. They are a bit like us.

"They moved Norris and Ebanks-Blake on and have really kicked on. We have moved Marlon on and not lost. We are doing everything right at the minute except put the ball in the net, which is what the game is all about."

Boothroyd says he has a decision to make with regards to captaincy and at right back - "Aidy has done very well and Lloyd has been knocking on the door and wants to play" - but Jay DeMerit is set to get the nod in both areas.