But for Nigel Adkins' side to regain top spot, they will have to arrest their indifferent away form that has yielded just one win in the previous six trips in the Championship.

While Southampton struggle on the road, Sam Allardyce has turned Upton Park into something of a fortress, having dropped just four points in the last 27 available at home.

Click below for individual match previews and stats

Birmingham v Hull City
Brighton v Millwall
Bristol City v Crystal Palace
Burnley v Barnsley
Cardiff v Peterborough
Coventry v Leeds
Derby v Reading
Doncaster v Blackpool
Middlesbrough v Nottm Forest
Portsmouth v Ipswich
Watford v Leicester
West Ham v Southampton

Two sides in the play-off positions meet at St Andrew's as the division's form side Birmingham City lock horns with sixth-placed Hull City.

Push

After seven wins in their last eight games, the Blues have been held only by Southampton and will be hoping to continue their push to the automatic promotion places.

Cardiff City, level on points with Birmingham, will also be keen to keep the pressure on the top two and they meet an out-of-form Peterborough side who triumphed 4-3 in an epic encounter with the Bluebirds at London Road last October.

Blackpool, the other team also occupying a play-off position prior to kick-off, travel to Doncaster Rovers who have not played a game in February after Saturday's meeting at Crystal Palace was postponed.

Troubled Portsmouth play their first game since applying to go into administration and will face Ipswich Town at Fratton Park.

With a 10-point deduction looming, Pompey could be in the relegation mix before long, making this game against a side also in the dogfight even more significant.

Leeds

Neil Redfearn takes caretaker charge of his third Leeds United game away to struggling Coventry, with the Sky Blues in danger of being five points adrift at the foot of the table by the end of play.

That could happen if Nottingham Forest manage to beat Middlesbrough at the Riverside, although both Forest and Boro are going through a difficult spell with the former having won just once in their last 14 games.

Of the sides looking to move away from the drop zone, 21st-placed Bristol City are at home to mid-table Crystal Palace, while Millwall face a trip to rejuvenated Brighton.

Reading have an opportunity to be in the play-off positions come full-time in their game at Derby County but, with four straight wins at Pride Park, Nigel Clough's side are a tough proposition on home soil.

There are also two mid-table clashes in the Championship as 11th-placed Burnley host 15th-placed Barnsley and 16th meets 12th as Watford tackle Leicester City.