An exciting weekend of Championship action is headlined by fourth place Leeds united playing host to league leading Queens Park Rangers.
Second place Cardiff City will be inactive as their game against Burnley has been snowed out, that means a win for Swansea City at struggling Sheffield United will see the Swans climb into the automatic promotion spots.
Coventry City and Norwich City will face off at the Ricoh Arena with both teams currently occupying spots in the playoff zone.
At the bottom end of the table, Preston North End will travel to play league leading goal scorers Watford, and Scunthorpe United will hope to end a run of five straight defeats when they travel to Portsmouth.
Crystal Palace could climb out of the relegation zone with a win, but face a tough task as they travel to play Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. Forest are the only team in the Championship with an undefeated home record.
Doncaster Rovers will be looking to bounce back from last week’s 5-1 defeat at the hands of Leicester City when they play host to Middlesbrough on Friday night. Middlesbrough should be in good spirits after a 1-0 victory over Cardiff City last week saw them climb out of the bottom three.
Mustapha Dumbuya is doubtful with a knee injury for Donny, while George Friend and Simon Gillett remain sidelined. Injuries have led to Rovers recalling defender Byron Webster from his loan spell at Hereford United.
Middlesbrough are hoping David Wheater will be fit to make his return after suspension, while Nicky Bailey is also an injury doubt for the Teessiders.
Coventry City and Norwich City will clash at the Ricoh Arena with both sides currently occupying the playoff zone. Coventry have kept four consecutive clean sheets coming into this game, but Norwich Captain Grant Holt will lead an attack that gives the Sky Blues a stern test in this game.
Sammy Clingan and Carl Baker will receive late fitness tests for Norwich, while midfielder Lee Carsley is suspended.
Holt will be returning from a suspension for the Canaries, and will be looking to add to his tally of nine goals this season. Former Coventry striker Leon Barnett is banned, while Norwich have a lengthy injury list that includes Adam Drury, Zak Whitbread, Matt Gill and Andrew Surnam.
Fourth place Leeds United will play host to league leaders Queens Park Rangers in a promotion clash at Elland Road. Leeds will enter the game hoping to extend an eight game unbeaten run, while QPR will be hoping to bounce back from losing their first game of the season last week.
Leeds could be without Bolton Wanderers loanee Andy O’Brien, who is struggling with a thigh injury. Neill Collins is his likely replacement if he misses the game.
QPR striker Rob Hulse will be hoping to start against his former club after recovering from illness, while Patrick Agyemang is another injury doubt in the Rangers front line.
Derby County will be looking to end a run of three consecutive defeats when they play host to Reading, who have drawn five games in a row.
Captain Robbie Savage should return for Derby after shaking off an ankle injury, while James Baily is also expected to return after his recovery from illness.
Reading Captain Ivar Ingimarsson could be back from a hamstring injury, while Brynjar Gunnarsson returned to training this week and could feature for the Royals.
Both Hull City and Bristol City have been in good form of late, but defeat for either side at the KC Stadium could see them dragged back into the relegation fight. Hull are currently riding a five game unbeaten streak, while Bristol have won their last three games without conceding a goal.
Richard Garcia and Daniel Ayala are doubts for Hull, while Nick Barmby and Mark Cullen are ruled out with leg and ankle injuries respectively.
Bristol City will be without defenders Louis Carey and Liam Fontaine due to injury, with Fontaine having been ruled out for at least a month due to an ankle injury suffered in training.
Striker Brett Pitman is in particularly good form for Bristol, having scored five goals in their last three games.
Millwall and Barnsley will clash with both sides in good form, and looking for a win that could lift them to within touching distance of the playoff spots. Millwall are unbeaten in their last four games and have conceded only one goal in that spell. Barnsley are on a five game undefeated streak, and have kept a clean sheet in their last three outings.
Liam Trotter could return for Millwall after a hamstring injury, but Captain Paul Robinson has been ruled out with a hamstring injury. Darren Ward is the likely replacement in the Lions defense.
Defenders Jay McEveley and Luke Potter are both sidelined with knee injuries for Barnsley, but Matt Hill could be back in action after recovering from a broken foot.
If Barnsley win this game, they will become the first club to win 1,000 matches in the second tier of English football.
Crystal Palace need points to climb out of the relegation zone, but face a tough task to get them as they travel to play Nottingham Forest. Forest are the only team in the league with an undefeated home record, while Palace are riding a run of four consecutive away defeats.
Paul McKenna and Dele Adebola are injury doubts and will receive late fitness tests for Forest.
Palace will be hoping for the return of talismanic midfielder Darren Ambrose, and Blackburn Rovers loanee Alex Marrow.
Watford are the Championshsip’s leading goal scorers and will play host to Preston North End who have the league’s worst defense. Watford are unbeaten in four games and last week handed league leaders Queens Park Rangers their first defeat of the season. Rock bottom Preston have had a slight upturn in form of late, having not lost for three games.
Stephen McGinn and Michael Bryan are injury absentees for Watford, while Piero Mingoia could be fit after recovering from a thigh injury.
The PNE attack will be boosted by Manchester united loanee Josh King who has recovered from an ankle injury. This game will be the last of the loan periods of Michael Tonge and Danny Pugh, who are set to return to Stoke City.
Portsmouth will return home after back to back away victories to face off against a Scunthorpe United team who are in miserable form. Scunthorpe are hoping to end a run of five consecutive defeats that has seen them fall to second from bottom in the table.
Carl Dickinson will return from a ban, and goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown should play for Portsmouth after recovering from appendicitis.Defender Greg Halford will be suspended for Pompey, while Michael Brown and Richard Hughes could miss out due to an ongoing contractual problem.
Defenders David Mirfin, Niall Canavan and Michael Raynes all miss out for Scunthorpe, while midfielder Michael Collins should make a welcome return from injury.
Sheffield United return home after consecutive away defeats to face off against high flying Swansea City, who are outside the automatic promotion spots on goal difference only.
This will be United’s first game without departed Manager Gary Speed, who left last week to take the Wales national team coaching job. John Carver has stepped into the caretaker manager role and will take charge in this game.
United are already the lowest scorers in the league, and their task will be made no easier by the fact that strikers Daniel Bogdanovic and Richard Cresswell are both suspended. Lee Williamson could return for the Blades, while goalkeeper Richard Wright will face a late fitness test.
Swansea have a clean bill of health, but defender Ashley Williams told BBC Sport this week there in chance of complacency against the struggling Blades. “Everyone knows that when you lose a manager or get a new manager it brings the squad together and they dig deep and try to impress people,” warned a cautious Williams.
Ipswich Town have fell to within three points of the relegation zone after a run of six consecutive league defeats. Under fire Manager Roy Keane will be looking to end that run when they play host to Sven Goran Eriksson’s Leicester City.
While Leicester have been steadily climbing to mid-table under Eriksson, Ipswich will be encouraged by the fact that the Foxes have conceded more away goals than any other Championship team.
Ipswich are sweating on the fitness of goalkeeper Marton Fulop and young striker Connor Wickham, both of whom are hoping to recover in time from injury. Damien Delaney is another doubt and is hoping to recover from a virus.
England goalkeeper Chris Kirkland could be fit for his Leicester debut, while the fitness of Roman Bednar is a question mark for the Foxes.
Coventry City and Norwich City will face off at the Ricoh Arena with both teams currently occupying spots in the playoff zone.
At the bottom end of the table, Preston North End will travel to play league leading goal scorers Watford, and Scunthorpe United will hope to end a run of five straight defeats when they travel to Portsmouth.
Crystal Palace could climb out of the relegation zone with a win, but face a tough task as they travel to play Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. Forest are the only team in the Championship with an undefeated home record.
Doncaster Rovers will be looking to bounce back from last week’s 5-1 defeat at the hands of Leicester City when they play host to Middlesbrough on Friday night. Middlesbrough should be in good spirits after a 1-0 victory over Cardiff City last week saw them climb out of the bottom three.
Mustapha Dumbuya is doubtful with a knee injury for Donny, while George Friend and Simon Gillett remain sidelined. Injuries have led to Rovers recalling defender Byron Webster from his loan spell at Hereford United.
Middlesbrough are hoping David Wheater will be fit to make his return after suspension, while Nicky Bailey is also an injury doubt for the Teessiders.
Coventry City and Norwich City will clash at the Ricoh Arena with both sides currently occupying the playoff zone. Coventry have kept four consecutive clean sheets coming into this game, but Norwich Captain Grant Holt will lead an attack that gives the Sky Blues a stern test in this game.
Sammy Clingan and Carl Baker will receive late fitness tests for Norwich, while midfielder Lee Carsley is suspended.
Holt will be returning from a suspension for the Canaries, and will be looking to add to his tally of nine goals this season. Former Coventry striker Leon Barnett is banned, while Norwich have a lengthy injury list that includes Adam Drury, Zak Whitbread, Matt Gill and Andrew Surnam.
Fourth place Leeds United will play host to league leaders Queens Park Rangers in a promotion clash at Elland Road. Leeds will enter the game hoping to extend an eight game unbeaten run, while QPR will be hoping to bounce back from losing their first game of the season last week.
Leeds could be without Bolton Wanderers loanee Andy O’Brien, who is struggling with a thigh injury. Neill Collins is his likely replacement if he misses the game.
QPR striker Rob Hulse will be hoping to start against his former club after recovering from illness, while Patrick Agyemang is another injury doubt in the Rangers front line.
Derby County will be looking to end a run of three consecutive defeats when they play host to Reading, who have drawn five games in a row.
Captain Robbie Savage should return for Derby after shaking off an ankle injury, while James Baily is also expected to return after his recovery from illness.
Reading Captain Ivar Ingimarsson could be back from a hamstring injury, while Brynjar Gunnarsson returned to training this week and could feature for the Royals.
Both Hull City and Bristol City have been in good form of late, but defeat for either side at the KC Stadium could see them dragged back into the relegation fight. Hull are currently riding a five game unbeaten streak, while Bristol have won their last three games without conceding a goal.
Richard Garcia and Daniel Ayala are doubts for Hull, while Nick Barmby and Mark Cullen are ruled out with leg and ankle injuries respectively.
Bristol City will be without defenders Louis Carey and Liam Fontaine due to injury, with Fontaine having been ruled out for at least a month due to an ankle injury suffered in training.
Striker Brett Pitman is in particularly good form for Bristol, having scored five goals in their last three games.
Millwall and Barnsley will clash with both sides in good form, and looking for a win that could lift them to within touching distance of the playoff spots. Millwall are unbeaten in their last four games and have conceded only one goal in that spell. Barnsley are on a five game undefeated streak, and have kept a clean sheet in their last three outings.
Liam Trotter could return for Millwall after a hamstring injury, but Captain Paul Robinson has been ruled out with a hamstring injury. Darren Ward is the likely replacement in the Lions defense.
Defenders Jay McEveley and Luke Potter are both sidelined with knee injuries for Barnsley, but Matt Hill could be back in action after recovering from a broken foot.
If Barnsley win this game, they will become the first club to win 1,000 matches in the second tier of English football.
Crystal Palace need points to climb out of the relegation zone, but face a tough task to get them as they travel to play Nottingham Forest. Forest are the only team in the league with an undefeated home record, while Palace are riding a run of four consecutive away defeats.
Paul McKenna and Dele Adebola are injury doubts and will receive late fitness tests for Forest.
Palace will be hoping for the return of talismanic midfielder Darren Ambrose, and Blackburn Rovers loanee Alex Marrow.
Watford are the Championshsip’s leading goal scorers and will play host to Preston North End who have the league’s worst defense. Watford are unbeaten in four games and last week handed league leaders Queens Park Rangers their first defeat of the season. Rock bottom Preston have had a slight upturn in form of late, having not lost for three games.
Stephen McGinn and Michael Bryan are injury absentees for Watford, while Piero Mingoia could be fit after recovering from a thigh injury.
The PNE attack will be boosted by Manchester united loanee Josh King who has recovered from an ankle injury. This game will be the last of the loan periods of Michael Tonge and Danny Pugh, who are set to return to Stoke City.
Portsmouth will return home after back to back away victories to face off against a Scunthorpe United team who are in miserable form. Scunthorpe are hoping to end a run of five consecutive defeats that has seen them fall to second from bottom in the table.
Carl Dickinson will return from a ban, and goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown should play for Portsmouth after recovering from appendicitis.Defender Greg Halford will be suspended for Pompey, while Michael Brown and Richard Hughes could miss out due to an ongoing contractual problem.
Defenders David Mirfin, Niall Canavan and Michael Raynes all miss out for Scunthorpe, while midfielder Michael Collins should make a welcome return from injury.
Sheffield United return home after consecutive away defeats to face off against high flying Swansea City, who are outside the automatic promotion spots on goal difference only.
This will be United’s first game without departed Manager Gary Speed, who left last week to take the Wales national team coaching job. John Carver has stepped into the caretaker manager role and will take charge in this game.
United are already the lowest scorers in the league, and their task will be made no easier by the fact that strikers Daniel Bogdanovic and Richard Cresswell are both suspended. Lee Williamson could return for the Blades, while goalkeeper Richard Wright will face a late fitness test.
Swansea have a clean bill of health, but defender Ashley Williams told BBC Sport this week there in chance of complacency against the struggling Blades. “Everyone knows that when you lose a manager or get a new manager it brings the squad together and they dig deep and try to impress people,” warned a cautious Williams.
Ipswich Town have fell to within three points of the relegation zone after a run of six consecutive league defeats. Under fire Manager Roy Keane will be looking to end that run when they play host to Sven Goran Eriksson’s Leicester City.
While Leicester have been steadily climbing to mid-table under Eriksson, Ipswich will be encouraged by the fact that the Foxes have conceded more away goals than any other Championship team.
Ipswich are sweating on the fitness of goalkeeper Marton Fulop and young striker Connor Wickham, both of whom are hoping to recover in time from injury. Damien Delaney is another doubt and is hoping to recover from a virus.
England goalkeeper Chris Kirkland could be fit for his Leicester debut, while the fitness of Roman Bednar is a question mark for the Foxes.
