ROBERT Koren is preparing to bid an emotional farewell to the KC Stadium on Sunday as Hull City's Premier League season ends with the visit of Everton.
The Tigers will aim to sign off a historic campaign with a victory ahead of facing Arsenal in next weekend's FA Cup final and it could be a fixture of particular significance for Koren.
Out of contract in the summer and without the guarantee of an extension, the final home game of the season appears increasingly likely to be Koren's swansong in front of the City faithful.
Although manager Steve Bruce says no decisions will be made until after the FA Cup final, sources close to Koren suggest he has already resigned himself to finding a new club this summer.
A start in Tuesday night's 3-1 loss at Manchester United was Koren's first in the Premier League since January and a measure of how far his stock has fallen.
The absence of regular football has damaged the Slovenian's prospects of earning a fifth season, but also helped convince him a fresh start would be in his best interests towards the end of a decorated career.
It is understood a host of Championship clubs have already declared an interest in the Slovenian and although he is no rush to commit, Sunday's game at a sold-out KC could well prove to be his last there.
Koren will be assured of a fine send off after playing a lead role in the club's transformation during his four years in East Yorkshire.
Making 150 appearances and scoring 29 goals, he captained the Tigers to a maiden automatic promotion out of the Championship last season.
Koren will be joined heading to the exit door by veteran defender Abdoulaye Faye, another hero of last term, but there are still question marks over Matty Fryatt, Steve Harper and Eldin Jakupovic.
Fryatt has been assured a new contract offer will come from City later this month, a move that will place the ball in his court as a soon-to-be free agent, but it seems either Harper or Jakupovic will depart.
Much could depend on Harper's appetite for another season at the age of 39 and he may have played his final game of the season if Allan McGregor is able to prove his fitness in the next 48 hours.
McGregor has been ruled out for the last six weeks after breaking three ribs and tearing a kidney in the 2-1 loss at West Ham United but is desperate to prove his fitness ahead of the FA Cup final.
Providing he trains fully today and tomorrow the Scotland international is expected to reclaim his number one spot for the visit of Everton, promoting his claims to face Arsenal at Wembley.
Paul McShane, an absentee since February with ankle ligament damage, is in the same boat ahead of the FA Cup final, but has done his chances no harm with run-outs in the last week against Leeds and Derby.
