• Hull and Middlesbrough open the weekend on Friday night

• Leaders Coventry head to Ipswich on Saturday

• Strugglers Oxford and Swansea meet in South Wales

Round 19 of Championship fixtures features several intriguing storylines at both ends of the table.

The game of the round looks to be the one at Portman Road, where Ipswich host leaders Coventry, while there is an East Midlands derby between Derby and Leicester.

Hull vs Middlesbrough (Friday, 8pm)

Second-placed Middlesbrough won both of last season's meetings and are off the mark under new boss Kim Hellberg after beating Derby 2-1 last Saturday.

Hull, currently ninth, won 2-1 at Stoke, and these sides could cancel each other out.

Score prediction: Hull 1-1 Middlesbrough 

Charlton vs Portsmouth (Saturday, 12.30pm)

Charlton have lost their last four but can respond at home to fellow strugglers Portsmouth.

Defeats to nil against Sheff Utd and Bristol City have piled pressure on John Mousinho and the Pompey boss could face more frustration at The Valley.

Score prediction: Charlton 2-0 Portsmouth

Derby vs Leicester (Saturday, 3pm)

Derby have won six of their last eight and can edge this East Midlands derby against Leicester.

The Foxes have lost their last two and, despite only being appointed in the summer, the pressure is already on Marti Cifuentes.

Score prediction: Derby 2-1 Leicester

Watford vs Norwich (Saturday, 12.30pm)

Philippe Clement lost his first game in charge of Norwich but has seen his team take four points from their two subsequent fixtures.

The Canaries won 2-1 at Vicarage Road in the EFL Cup in August and can sting the Hornets, who lost their last game 2-1 at Birmingham on Monday.

Score prediction: Watford 1-2 Norwich

Blackburn vs Sheff Wed (Saturday, 3pm)

Sheff Wed were hit with another points deduction this week and this is a real opportunity for Blackburn.

Valerien Ismael bemoaned the officiating after conceding a 94th-minute equaliser in Tuesday's 1-1 draw with Ipswich, but the Owls lack Town's threat and Rovers can claim just their second home win of the season.

Score prediction: Blackburn 3-1 Sheff Wed

Bristol City vs Millwall (Saturday, 3pm)

Tristan Crama's 97th-minute winner saw Millwall overcome Southampton 3-2 last Saturday, but they have won just one of their last seven away in all competitions.

The Lions are third on 31 points, but sixth-placed Bristol City can go from 29 to 32 points with a fourth victory in five home games.

Score prediction: Bristol City 2-1 Millwall

Ipswich vs Coventry (Saturday, 3pm)

Kieran McKenna slammed Ipswich's performance in Tuesday's 1-1 at Blackburn and Coventry's extra rest could be crucial.

The leaders start the weekend 10 points clear and a seventh away win of the season would be a real statement.

Score prediction: Ipswich 0-2 Coventry

Preston vs Wrexham (Saturday, 3pm)

It is rare for Wrexham's progress to go unnoticed, but they are unbeaten in six and three points off the play-offs.

They won 3-2 at Deepdale in the EFL Cup, but Preston occupy fifth and can eke out a victory.

Score prediction: Preston 2-1 Wrexham

QPR vs West Brom (Saturday, 3pm)

Last Saturday's 3-1 loss at Norwich ended QPR's three-match unbeaten run and they sit 13th, level on 25 points with this weekend's visitors, West Brom.

Albion's superior goal difference places them ahead in 12th, but this feels like a fixture where two well-matched sides will cancel each other out, with Albion the lowest scorers in the top 16.

Score prediction: QPR 1-1 West Brom

Sheff Utd vs Stoke (Saturday, 3pm)

Chris Wilder's Sheff Utd have won four in a row to move out of the relegation places and could be facing Stoke at a good time.

The Potters hold fourth in the Championship table but have lost three of their last four.

Score prediction: Sheff Utd 3-1 Stoke

Southampton vs Birmingham (Saturday, 3pm)

Southampton are yet to find a permanent replacement for Will Still, but their loss at Millwall was the first under interim coach Tonda Eckert.

A second could be in the post with Birmingham coming good in recent weeks, winning four of their last six and the uncertainty at St Mary's makes this a good opportunity to grab a first away victory since October 21st.

Score prediction: Southampton 1-2 Birmingham

Swansea vs Oxford (Saturday, 3pm)

Vitor Matos is searching for his first point as Swansea manager and improving Oxford can extend that wait.

The U's drew 1-1 with Middlesbrough and Norwich before beating Ipswich 2-1 last Friday and can strike again in South Wales.

Score prediction: Swansea 1-2 Oxford