The Championship's top three are all on their travels this weekend and there is a crunch game in the battle to avoid relegation.
Promotion rivals all away from home as race hots up
The Championship's top three are all on their travels this weekend and there is a crunch game in the battle to avoid relegation.
There is also no let-up in the race to secure a play-off spot as there are two games involving teams right in the thick of the fight to finish in the top six.
Leaders
Southampton have the worst away record of the top three clubs and Nigel Adkins' side head to a
Millwall team only six points outside the relegation zone.
Second-placed
Reading's eight-match winning run came to an end at Doncaster Rovers in midweek and Brian McDermott's men return to South Yorkshire to tackle
Barnsley.
West Ham United are also on the road to Yorkshire as the third-placed club take on a
Leeds United side buoyed by last weekend's victory at Middlesbrough.
Only three points currently separate fourth spot from ninth position in the table and
Middlesbrough will hope to tighten their grip on a play-off place at
Birmingham City.
Brighton & Hove Albion have yet to taste defeat in the league in 2012 and Saturday sees Gus Poyet's squad head for a seaside showdown with
Blackpool.
Hull City sit in the final play-off position and, after snapping a five-game drawing streak by beating Cardiff City in midweek, will hope for more of the same away to
Crystal Palace.
Carling Cup runners-up
Cardiff will have to wait until Sunday to get back on track as
Burnley make the trip down to South Wales.
Bottom club
Portsmouth will hope to put their financial problems to one side by ending a run of eight games without a win when fellow strugglers
Bristol City visit Fratton Park.
Coventry City are still to pick up a victory away from home this season and, after just three points from 17 matches on the road this season, go to
Watford.
Doncaster are trying to inch their way to safety and entertain mid-table
Derby County at the Keepmoat Stadium.
Ipswich Town and
Peterborough United have scored 110 goals between them this season so goals should be on the agenda when they meet at Portman Road.
