Roberto Mancini's side lost 3-1 to Lech Poznan on Matchday Four, which equalled the club's worst away defeat in Uefa club competition. The loss leaves City in second place after four matches, but the Premier League outfit can guarantee qualification from Group A with a victory on Wednesday night if Juventus suffer defeat against Poznan.
In contrast, anything less than a win at Eastlands will see Huub Stevens' Salzburg eliminated as they sit bottom of the group and without a win in six European matches.
City came out on top when the two teams met on Matchday One, with David Silva and Jo scoring the goals to earn a first win over Austrian opponents.
Make or break
Yaya Toure could come into contention after the midfielder missed Saturday's Premier League draw against Stoke with a migraine.
Emmanuel Adebayor, whose future is uncertain ahead of the January transfer window, is expected to recover in time from a groin problem.
Argentine defender Pablo Zabaleta, suspended for the game at Stoke, can play in European competition.
Mancini expects December to mark the start of a period which will make or break his side ahead of a run of 10 games in the next six weeks.
Salzburg right-back Christian Schwegler has been ruled out until 2011 after injuring his thigh during training.
Stevens' team have struggled for goals in Group A and Dusan Svento has scored their only goal at this stage of the competition.
