- Sheffield United are top, two points clear of Leeds and Burnley- Just two points separates Coventry in fifth and eighth-placed Bristol City- Cardiff, Luton and Plymouth currently occupy the relegation places

There are just seven rounds of fixtures remaining in the Championship campaign as the race for automatic promotion, the play-off places and survival hots up.

Blackburn's home clash with Middlesbrough will get the weekend up and running on Friday night before a bumper Saturday sees 11 second-tier matches take place.

Blackburn vs Middlesbrough (Friday, 8pm)

Blackburn's play-off hopes are fading fast following a six-match winless run that has yielded just a solitary point, with head coach Valerien Ismael yet to register a win since taking charge in February.

A home clash with an improving Middlesbrough, who have lost just once in six, is unlikely to provide any respite for the Ewood Park faithful.

Score prediction: Blackburn 1-2 Middlesbrough

Coventry vs Burnley (Saturday, 12.30pm)

Coventry were beaten at league leaders Sheffield United last time out but they have won four home games on the bounce and can take a point from this clash against another promotion contender in Burnley.

Score prediction: Coventry 1-1 Burnley

Luton vs Leeds (Saturday, 12.30pm)

Second-bottom may be hosting second-top, but improving Luton have won three of their last five and can take something from high-flying Leeds, whose own form has stuttered of late.

Score prediction: Luton 2-2 Leeds

West Brom vs Sunderland (Saturday, 12.30pm)

Draws could be the order of the day in the 12.30 kick-offs, with fifth-placed West Brom — the draw specialists of the division — set to share the spoils with a Sunderland side that have lost just one of their last five.

Score prediction: West Brom 1-1 Sunderland

Bristol City vs Watford (Saturday, 3pm)

Play-off chasing Bristol City have lost just three of 19 Championship home games this season and can get the better of a Watford side that have found wins hard to come by of late, triumphing in only four of their last 17 league fixtures.

Score prediction: Bristol City 2-0 Watford

Millwall vs Portsmouth (Saturday, 3pm)

Millwall still harbour play-off ambitions and can make it one defeat in six on home soil by beating poor travellers Portsmouth, who have lost 10 of their last 11 road fixtures across all competitions.

Score prediction: Millwall 3-0 Portsmouth

Oxford vs Sheffield United (Saturday, 3pm)

One win in 11 means Oxford still have plenty of work to do to ensure survival and they are unlikely to get anything out of league leaders Sheffield United, who are chasing a seventh away win on the bounce.

Score prediction: Oxford 1-2 Sheffield United

Plymouth vs Norwich (Saturday, 3pm)

Time is running out in Plymouth's pursuit of survival, but they can at least avoid defeat against a Norwich side that struggle on the road and both score and concede goals at regular intervals.

Score prediction: Plymouth 2-2 Norwich

Preston vs Stoke (Saturday, 3pm)

No team has drawn more home matches in the Championship than Preston (10) and after a disappointing week, they may have to settle for a point against struggling Stoke in a game that is not expected to be a classic.

Score prediction: Preston 0-0 Stoke

QPR vs Cardiff (Saturday, 3pm)

QPR have taken just one point from the last 18 available and could get firmly dragged back into a relegation fight by a Cardiff side that were last seen on the road winning at Blackburn.

Score prediction: QPR 1-2 Cardiff

Sheffield Wednesday vs Hull City(Saturday, 3pm)

Off-the-field issues could prove costly for Sheffield Wednesday, who are already without a win in six on home soil and may come unstuck against a Hull side battling for survival.

Score prediction: Sheffield Wednesday 1-3 Hull City

Swansea vs Derby (Saturday, 3pm)

Derby have won four in a row to move out of the relegation zone, but only one of those wins has come on their travels and they may have to settle for a point at Swansea.

Score prediction: Swansea 0-0 Derby.