Cardiff City and Leeds United will go head to head on Wednesday at Cardiff City Stadium knowing the winner can move up to second place.
While Cardiff and Leeds enter the game separated by only one point in the playoff zone, they enter this game in very differing form. Cardiff have lost five of their last seven games while falling to fifth place, while Leeds have climbed to fourth on the back of a 12 game unbeaten streak.
Crystal Palace will travel to face rock bottom Preston North End in a vital relegation clash. Preston are six points adrift of safety, while Palace are three points above them and are equally desperate for points. Scunthorpe United are also in the bottom three and face a tough task to get a win when they play host to in-form Watford.
Sheffield United and Middlesbrough are two points above the drop zone, and will be looking for points against Doncaster Rovers and Norwich City respectively.
League leaders Queens Park Rangers will be looking to return to winning ways against Bristol City, while second place Swansea City will travel to face Leicester City.
In the playoff race, Millwall could break into the top six with a win at Derby County, while Burnley will be looking for points against fellow playoff contenders Reading.
Scunthorpe United are looking for a win that will help them escape the relegation zone, but face a tough task to get three points when they play host to in-form Watford. Watford are currently in sixth place and have won four consecutive games.
Scunthorpe will be without Michael Raynes who is suffering from a thigh problem, Niall Canavan and Jim McNulty are also sidelined with injury.
Watford captain John Eustace is doubtful with a calf strain and will be assessed ahead of kickoff. Piero Mingoia should be fit to return.
Sheffield United will be looking to avoid their fourth straight defeat when they play host to Doncaster Rovers in the South Yorkshire derby. United are only two points above the relegation zone, while Doncaster are three points below the playoff zone.
Nick Montgomery and Kyle Bartley will return from suspension for the Blades, while Nyron Nosworthy is ruled out with an ankle problem. Richard Wright and Jean Calve are doubtful for United, while Matt Lowton and Leon Britton will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
Doncaster defender Sam Hird is suspended after being sent off in the recent win over Scunthorpe, while Shelton Martis and Brian Stock are injury doubts.
League leading Queens Park Rangers will be looking to return to winning ways when they play host to mid-table Bristol City. Bristol are off the playoff pace, but will be boosted in confidence by their 3-0 win over Cardiff City last time out.
Matt Connolly is suspended for QPR after being sent off in the 1-0 defeat to Norwich City. Norway international Pater Vaagen Moen recently signed from SK Brann, and will be hoping to receive his international clearance in time to play.
Louis Carey could return to the starting lineup for Bristol, while Cole Skuse will be out with an injury suffered in the win over Cardiff. Liam Fontaine and Jamie McAllister are long term absentees for the Robins.
Portsmouth and Hull City will go head to head with both teams entrenched in mid-table. The two teams are level on points and sit six points behind the playoff spots, and seven above the drop zone.
Portsmouth defender Greg Halford will be suspended after being sent off in the 3-0 loss to Watford last time out. Dave Kitson will return from suspension, while Liam Lawrence will be eligible after completing his permanent move from Stoke City.
Hull will be without Liam Rosenior, who is suspended after being sent off in the midweek defeat to Leicester City. Striker Matty Fryatt will make his debut after signing from Leicester, while Aston Villa loanee Brad Guzan is set to continue in goal for the Tigers.
Reading and Burnley clash at the Madejski Stadium with both teams firmly in the playoff race. Burnley are one point below the playoff places, while Reading are only one point further back.
Reading have doubts over the fitness of Jobi McAnuff and Mikele Leigertwood. Both players will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
Chris Eagles and Chris Iwelumo made goal scoring returns for Burnley in the 4-2 win over Sheffield United, both will be hoping to keep their place.
Martin Paterson is an injury doubt for the Clarets, while Chris McCann remains sidelined with injury.
Norwich City have climbed up to third place after three consecutive wins, including a 1-0 victory over league leading Queens Park Rangers last time out. The Canaries will be looking to continue their good form when they travel to face struggling Middlesbrough. Norwich are one point behind the automatic promotion slots, while Middlesbrough sit only two points above the drop zone.
Kevin Thomson will be out for Boro, after limping out of the 1-1 draw at Leeds United last time out. Fellow midfielder Barry Robson is hoping to shake off a virus in time to play.
Norwich boss Paul Lambert will be able to select Leon Barnett and Simon Lappin, who both return from suspension.
Nottingham Forest are currently riding a three game unbeaten streak in which they have scored 10 goals, they will be looking to continue that good form when they travel to face Ipswich Town. Forest are two points outside the playoff places, while Ipswich are five points are above the drop zone and will ber looking for points to escape the relegation mire.
Gareth McAuley is an injury doubt for Ipswich and will be assessed ahead of kickoff, while Shane O’Connor and Brian Murphy are ruled out due to injury.
Paul McKenna is suffering from a virus and is a doubt for Forest, while Ryan Bertrand and David McGoldrick are sidelined.
Swansea City have climbed up to second place after consecutive 1-0 wins, and will be looking to continue their winning ways when they travel to face Leicester City. Swansea are four points behind league leaders Queens Park Rangers, while Leicester will be looking to close the four point gap between themselves and the playoff spots.
Leicester will be without England goalkeeper Chris Kirkland, who has returned to Wigan Athletic after his loan spell expired. Greg Cunningham will also be out for Leicester after breaking his leg against Hull. Defender Ben Mee has recently signed on loan from Manchester City, and could make his debut here.
Defender Alan Tate is suspended for Swansea, while Andrea Orlandi and Neil Taylor are out with injury.
Coventry City will be looking to continue their playoff challenge when they travel to face Barnsley. Coventry are point outside of the playoff places, while Barnsley are five points further back, and will be looking to end a three game winless run.
Barnsley are concerned about the fitness of star midfielder Adam Hammill, who will likely not be fit to play. Jay McEveley and Luke Potter will remain sidelined with knee injuries.
Striker Garry O’Connor will be available again as his permanent move from Birmingham City has went through.
Coventry will be without suspended striker Marlon King, who was sent off in the 1-1 draw against Ipswich Town last time out. Freddy Eastwood will be the likely replacement in the Coventry front line.
Gary McSheffrey and Aron Gunarsson will return for the Sky Blues, but Ben Turner remains sidelined with a knee injury.
Millwall will be looking to extend a seven game unbeaten streak when they travel to play Derby County. The Lions are only one point and one place below the playoff zone, and Derby are only two points further back.
Derby will be boosted by the return of Dean Moxey from suspension. Chris Porter recently returned from injury, and will be hoping to keep his place after scoring twice against Preston North End last time out.
Millwall could be without leading goal scorer Steve Morison, who is suffering from a viral infection. Alan Dunne is suspended for the Lions, while Danny Shittu and Paul Robinson remain injury doubts.
Crystal Palace will play host to Preston North End in a vital relegation clash. Preston currently sit bottom of the table six points adrift of safety, while Palace are only one place and three points ahead of them.
Palace recently sacked George Burley after a five game winless run, and Dougie Freedman has taken charge as caretaker manager. Preston also have a caretaker manager, with David Unsworth having recently replaced the sacked Darren Ferguson.
Alex Marrow and Claude David are injury doubts for Palace, while defender David Wright will return from suspension.
Former Tottenham Hotspur striker Steffen Iversen has signed for Palace, and will be hoping to receive his international clearance in time to play.
Leon Cort will play for Preston after extending his load deal from Burnley, but Wayne Brown is an injury doubt.
Cardiff City and Leeds United will go head to head at Cardiff City Stadium knowing the wonner can move up to second place.
While the two teams enter the game separated by only one point in the playoff zone, they enter this game in very differing form. Cardiff have lost five of their last seven games while falling to fifth place, while Leeds have climbed to fourth on the back of a 12 game unbeaten streak.
Cardiff will be unable to field newly signed striker Jon Parkin due to an ankle injury. Jay Bothroyd remains an injury doubt, and newspaper speculation is consistently linking the England forward with a move to a Premier League club in January.
Patrick Kisnorbo and Richard Naylor will be out injured for Leeds, while Ben Parker could return to the team. Neil Kilkenny is unavailable as he is representing Australia at the Asian Cup.
Crystal Palace will travel to face rock bottom Preston North End in a vital relegation clash. Preston are six points adrift of safety, while Palace are three points above them and are equally desperate for points. Scunthorpe United are also in the bottom three and face a tough task to get a win when they play host to in-form Watford.
Sheffield United and Middlesbrough are two points above the drop zone, and will be looking for points against Doncaster Rovers and Norwich City respectively.
League leaders Queens Park Rangers will be looking to return to winning ways against Bristol City, while second place Swansea City will travel to face Leicester City.
In the playoff race, Millwall could break into the top six with a win at Derby County, while Burnley will be looking for points against fellow playoff contenders Reading.
Scunthorpe United are looking for a win that will help them escape the relegation zone, but face a tough task to get three points when they play host to in-form Watford. Watford are currently in sixth place and have won four consecutive games.
Scunthorpe will be without Michael Raynes who is suffering from a thigh problem, Niall Canavan and Jim McNulty are also sidelined with injury.
Watford captain John Eustace is doubtful with a calf strain and will be assessed ahead of kickoff. Piero Mingoia should be fit to return.
Sheffield United will be looking to avoid their fourth straight defeat when they play host to Doncaster Rovers in the South Yorkshire derby. United are only two points above the relegation zone, while Doncaster are three points below the playoff zone.
Nick Montgomery and Kyle Bartley will return from suspension for the Blades, while Nyron Nosworthy is ruled out with an ankle problem. Richard Wright and Jean Calve are doubtful for United, while Matt Lowton and Leon Britton will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
Doncaster defender Sam Hird is suspended after being sent off in the recent win over Scunthorpe, while Shelton Martis and Brian Stock are injury doubts.
League leading Queens Park Rangers will be looking to return to winning ways when they play host to mid-table Bristol City. Bristol are off the playoff pace, but will be boosted in confidence by their 3-0 win over Cardiff City last time out.
Matt Connolly is suspended for QPR after being sent off in the 1-0 defeat to Norwich City. Norway international Pater Vaagen Moen recently signed from SK Brann, and will be hoping to receive his international clearance in time to play.
Louis Carey could return to the starting lineup for Bristol, while Cole Skuse will be out with an injury suffered in the win over Cardiff. Liam Fontaine and Jamie McAllister are long term absentees for the Robins.
Portsmouth and Hull City will go head to head with both teams entrenched in mid-table. The two teams are level on points and sit six points behind the playoff spots, and seven above the drop zone.
Portsmouth defender Greg Halford will be suspended after being sent off in the 3-0 loss to Watford last time out. Dave Kitson will return from suspension, while Liam Lawrence will be eligible after completing his permanent move from Stoke City.
Hull will be without Liam Rosenior, who is suspended after being sent off in the midweek defeat to Leicester City. Striker Matty Fryatt will make his debut after signing from Leicester, while Aston Villa loanee Brad Guzan is set to continue in goal for the Tigers.
Reading and Burnley clash at the Madejski Stadium with both teams firmly in the playoff race. Burnley are one point below the playoff places, while Reading are only one point further back.
Reading have doubts over the fitness of Jobi McAnuff and Mikele Leigertwood. Both players will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
Chris Eagles and Chris Iwelumo made goal scoring returns for Burnley in the 4-2 win over Sheffield United, both will be hoping to keep their place.
Martin Paterson is an injury doubt for the Clarets, while Chris McCann remains sidelined with injury.
Norwich City have climbed up to third place after three consecutive wins, including a 1-0 victory over league leading Queens Park Rangers last time out. The Canaries will be looking to continue their good form when they travel to face struggling Middlesbrough. Norwich are one point behind the automatic promotion slots, while Middlesbrough sit only two points above the drop zone.
Kevin Thomson will be out for Boro, after limping out of the 1-1 draw at Leeds United last time out. Fellow midfielder Barry Robson is hoping to shake off a virus in time to play.
Norwich boss Paul Lambert will be able to select Leon Barnett and Simon Lappin, who both return from suspension.
Nottingham Forest are currently riding a three game unbeaten streak in which they have scored 10 goals, they will be looking to continue that good form when they travel to face Ipswich Town. Forest are two points outside the playoff places, while Ipswich are five points are above the drop zone and will ber looking for points to escape the relegation mire.
Gareth McAuley is an injury doubt for Ipswich and will be assessed ahead of kickoff, while Shane O’Connor and Brian Murphy are ruled out due to injury.
Paul McKenna is suffering from a virus and is a doubt for Forest, while Ryan Bertrand and David McGoldrick are sidelined.
Swansea City have climbed up to second place after consecutive 1-0 wins, and will be looking to continue their winning ways when they travel to face Leicester City. Swansea are four points behind league leaders Queens Park Rangers, while Leicester will be looking to close the four point gap between themselves and the playoff spots.
Leicester will be without England goalkeeper Chris Kirkland, who has returned to Wigan Athletic after his loan spell expired. Greg Cunningham will also be out for Leicester after breaking his leg against Hull. Defender Ben Mee has recently signed on loan from Manchester City, and could make his debut here.
Defender Alan Tate is suspended for Swansea, while Andrea Orlandi and Neil Taylor are out with injury.
Coventry City will be looking to continue their playoff challenge when they travel to face Barnsley. Coventry are point outside of the playoff places, while Barnsley are five points further back, and will be looking to end a three game winless run.
Barnsley are concerned about the fitness of star midfielder Adam Hammill, who will likely not be fit to play. Jay McEveley and Luke Potter will remain sidelined with knee injuries.
Striker Garry O’Connor will be available again as his permanent move from Birmingham City has went through.
Coventry will be without suspended striker Marlon King, who was sent off in the 1-1 draw against Ipswich Town last time out. Freddy Eastwood will be the likely replacement in the Coventry front line.
Gary McSheffrey and Aron Gunarsson will return for the Sky Blues, but Ben Turner remains sidelined with a knee injury.
Millwall will be looking to extend a seven game unbeaten streak when they travel to play Derby County. The Lions are only one point and one place below the playoff zone, and Derby are only two points further back.
Derby will be boosted by the return of Dean Moxey from suspension. Chris Porter recently returned from injury, and will be hoping to keep his place after scoring twice against Preston North End last time out.
Millwall could be without leading goal scorer Steve Morison, who is suffering from a viral infection. Alan Dunne is suspended for the Lions, while Danny Shittu and Paul Robinson remain injury doubts.
Crystal Palace will play host to Preston North End in a vital relegation clash. Preston currently sit bottom of the table six points adrift of safety, while Palace are only one place and three points ahead of them.
Palace recently sacked George Burley after a five game winless run, and Dougie Freedman has taken charge as caretaker manager. Preston also have a caretaker manager, with David Unsworth having recently replaced the sacked Darren Ferguson.
Alex Marrow and Claude David are injury doubts for Palace, while defender David Wright will return from suspension.
Former Tottenham Hotspur striker Steffen Iversen has signed for Palace, and will be hoping to receive his international clearance in time to play.
Leon Cort will play for Preston after extending his load deal from Burnley, but Wayne Brown is an injury doubt.
Cardiff City and Leeds United will go head to head at Cardiff City Stadium knowing the wonner can move up to second place.
While the two teams enter the game separated by only one point in the playoff zone, they enter this game in very differing form. Cardiff have lost five of their last seven games while falling to fifth place, while Leeds have climbed to fourth on the back of a 12 game unbeaten streak.
Cardiff will be unable to field newly signed striker Jon Parkin due to an ankle injury. Jay Bothroyd remains an injury doubt, and newspaper speculation is consistently linking the England forward with a move to a Premier League club in January.
Patrick Kisnorbo and Richard Naylor will be out injured for Leeds, while Ben Parker could return to the team. Neil Kilkenny is unavailable as he is representing Australia at the Asian Cup.
