Nigel Adkins wants to leave to take charge at Southampton, but although he and assistant Andy Crosby have agreed personal terms with the Saints the two clubs have not settled on compensation.
Adkins took first-team training as usual on Thursday and Friday, and will be in charge on Saturday if no deal is made. Steve Wharton, the Iron chairman, has said the club are asking for "a modest amount" - reports have suggested this could be as low as £50,000, although that would be half the amount Sheffield Wednesday paid for Brian Laws in November 2006.
Should Adkins leave the club before the game then first-team coach Ian Baraclough is expected to take charge in a caretaker capacity.
The only definite in all this is that come 3pm on Saturday, Scunthorpe's players must try and put the speculation to one side and win a game of football.
"It doesn't affect us at. As players you do what you do, come in to train and prepare for the game on Saturday," Cliff Byrne, the Iron captain, told the club's official website.
"That's what we've done all week, and the manager's been there for that so it's no issue."
Keith Millen, the Bristol City manager, has also said his side will approach the game the same regardless of who is in charge of the Iron.
"It can't have been great for Scunthorpe this week with all the speculation, we can't let that sort of speculation bother us in any shape or form," he said.
"We've had a good week's training and we will be focusing our attentions on trying to win the game."