Sunderland travel to the JJB Stadium to face Wigan in a crucial clash which could see them move eight points clear of the Latics. Wigan suffered a shock home defeat against West Ham on Saturday but Paul Jewell looks set to keep faith with his squad although Alan Mahon may make his first start in more than a month.
Mick McCarthy's boys moved five points clear after their convincing 3-1 win at Queens Park Rangers, but it needed a half time rocket from McCarthy to sort them out. Mart Poom, Kevin Kyle, George McCartney and Matt Piper are all ruled out but Brian Deane could be named on the bench if he recovers from a calf injury.
Four of Sunderland's final games are against sides all in the top seven of the league - including difficult trips to Wigan and Ipswich. "There's still a lot of work to do. We have a six-game mini-league and we need four wins from it," said midfielder Carl Robinson.
Wigan boss Paul Jewell, meanwhile, has praised Sunderland for their consistency at a time when his team has wobbled. "We're disappointed after the West Ham match, but we're second in the league and have had a smashing season ourselves," Jewell said ahead of the top-of-the-table clash. "We've lost eight games all season. That's decent and we're as good as anything in this division.
"This is a great game to be involved in and is an ideal opportunity to quickly put the West Ham match behind us. Joe Royle has gone on record as saying Sunderland are the most consistent of the top three - that speaks for itself because they're ten points clear of fourth place and are on a fantastic run.
"At this moment in time they're the best team in the league because they're top, but we're not giving up on anything - if we can play like I know we can, we're more than capable of beating them."
Ipswich are level on points with Wigan and could leapfrog over the Latics if they beat rock-bottom Rotherham at home. This isnt quite the nailed on certainty it looks as the Millers picked up a rare away win at Stoke on Saturday to delay their inevitable relegation. However, they will still be hard-pushed to upset an Ipswich side still buzzing after their fine 3-2 home win over Derby.
Darren Bent has recovered from a knock and will lead the attack for the Tractor Boys while Scott Minto will be hoping to return for Rotherham after recovering from an ankle injury.
Fourth-placed Preston will be hoping to shrug off the disappointment of Gillinghams last-minute equaliser when they play Brighton. The Seagulls are also struggling at the foot of the table and Billy Davies will be hoping for more from his team to cement their play-off position. Dickson Etuhu is still suspended for the Lilywhites while Brighton boss Mark McGhee is likely to recall Richard Carpenter after he has served his three-match ban. Leon Knight is likely to play before his two-match ban kicks in and Brighton must pick up something to halt their alarming slide.
Reading take on Milwall at the Madjeski Stadium in a vital game for both teams. The Royals are in fifth position after overcoming their mid-season blip while Milwall need to win to maintain any play-off ambitions. Reading could only draw 0-0 against Sheffield United at the weekend and they will be without both wingers for this clash. Glen Little is a major doubt with a groin strain while Bobby Convey suffered an allergic reaction to Astroturf while playing for the USA last week. Alan Dunne, Dennis Wise, Paul Ifil, Kevin Muscat and Barry Hayles are all unlikely to feature for a Milwall side looking to bounce back from their 3-1 defeat at Leicester on Saturday.
Derby boss George Burley is set to re-shuffle his defence after they leaked three goals at Ipswich on Saturday. The Rams are hanging on to the final play-off spot and Burley is set to recall centre half Michael Johnson for their clash at mid-table Crewe, while Dario Gradi is set to name goalkeeper Stuart Tomlinson on the bench after he recovered from a broken hand.
Before the Ipswich defeat Burley set his side a 75 points target, which still stands. "We've got to get at least another fours wins and two draws in our remaining games," he confirms. "We need to be at our best because there are a number of teams that are very competitive. In the last few years the club has been fighting against relegation and so it's nice to be involved at the right end of the table."
West Ham will bid to keep up the pressure on Derby by winning another tough encounter in Lancashire. Teddy Sheringhams 19th of the season helped them to a win at Wigan and Alan Pardews boys will want to repeat the trick at Burnley - and he will be encouraged by news that Sheringham looks set to sign on for another year before calling it a day.
However, West Ham will find it tough against an in-form Clarets side that beat Watford 3-1 on Saturday. Ade Akinbiyi is likely to start in attack for the Clarets while Matthew Etherington and Carl Fletcher are pushing for recalls to the Hammers starting line-up.
Sheffield United are on the fringes too and cold boost their claims by winning at Yorkshire rivals Leeds. Sean Gregan is set to return for Leeds after suspension but they could lose Rob Hulse and Gary Kelly through injury. Neil Warnock is set for options in attack after Andy Liddell has recovered from his calf strain to partner either Steve Kabba or Danny Webber.
QPR will be looking to bounce back from their home defeat against Sunderland by putting a nail in Gillinghams coffin. However, they will have to do it without Martin Rowlands and Dean Sturridge while Matthew Rose is doubtful. Alan Pouton is likely to return to the Gillingham squad but Stan Ternent is set to stick with the same starting line-up that grabbed a vital point at Preston, despite dropping back into the bottom three. "There's another 18 points up for grabs," he said. "We've been on a fantastic run and all credit to the players. Gillingham are the in-form team along with Sunderland."
Cardiff travel to Stoke in desperate need of points as they only head Gillingham on goal difference. Darren Williams and Michael Boulding could be in the starting line-up for the cash-strapped Bluebirds but Stoke will want to impress their won fans. They suffered an embarrassing home defeat against back-markers Rotherham at the weekend and will be without Michael Duberry, who was sent-off in that encounter.
Plymouth and Watford are only two points from safety and Adie Boothroyd will be hoping for a win in his second game in charge. The youngest manager in the Football League saw his charges lose 3-1 at Turf Moor at the weekend Home Park is not an easy place to stop the rot. He is still without the injured duo of Sean Dyche and Paul Devlin but Danny Cullip and Heidar Helguson are likely to play.
Finally, Leicester's Nikos Dabizas is set to return to the side after missing their 3-1 weekend win over Milwall. However, Darren Kenton is a major doubt as is Richard Stearman. Draw specialists Wolves are waiting on a late fitness test to see if Paul Ince is ready to start while Mark Kennedy is also struggling to shake-off an ankle injury. Carl Cort and Rob Edwards are also doubts for Glenn Hoddle's men.
