Ipswich are one of three clubs that can finish in the Championship's automatic promotion places heading into the final few days of the season. Stuart Watson looks at various permutations.
IN TOWN'S HANDS
Let's start with the most obvious permutation of all.
If Ipswich Town win their final three games they will secure back-to-back automatic promotions into the Premier League. Simple as that.
What a season it's been. No-one thought Kieran McKenna's men would be in this position, but here we are. And who knows when such an opportunity will come around again.
Can they do it? That's a huge ask given the opposition and travel that's involved over the coming eight day period.
On Saturday, the Blues, fresh from a two-week break, go to Hull City for an 8pm kick-off. The Tigers still have a chance of securing a play-off place following last night's 3-2 win at Coventry.
The East Yorkshire side are unbeaten in six at the KC Stadium. Liam Rosenior was on the three-man shortlist for Championship Manager of the Year, centre-back Jacob Greaves was named in Team of the Year, while attacking talent Abdülkadir Ömür, Jaden Philogene, Fabio Carvalho and Ozan Tufan can all be crowd pleasers on their day. They are undoubtedly a much better side now than the one that Ipswich thrashed 3-0 at Portman Road in early October.
All that said, Hull did have a recent run of just two wins from 10. They are a side that take risks and there will be space to exploit. There's an argument this game, stylistically, actually suits Ipswich better than facing a team looking to grind out a point.
Just three days later, Town have another game on the road against a top-half side. Coventry beat Leeds at the CBS Arena earlier this month, then pushed Manchester United all the way in an FA Cup semi-final. Prior to last night, Mark Robins' men had only lost three of their 20 league games on home turf. The likes of Ben Sheaf, Callum O'Hare, Haji Wright and Ellis Simms are players in form.
Town did beat the Sky Blues 2-1 in the reverse fixture though (thanks to Wes Burns' trivela goal), while Coventry are now out of play-off contention and could be mentally/physically jaded (this will be their fourth game in 10 days) by the time kick-off comes around. They go to Blackburn on Saturday.
Kieran McKenna's men then finish the season with the visit of Huddersfield a week on Saturday (12.30pm). The Terriers are currently three points adrift of safety and have a huge home game against Birmingham this weekend. Lose that and they are down. Take something from it though and, depending on results elsewhere, they will come to Portman Road still fighting for their lives.
The Terriers can be awkward opposition. Town needed a late goal to salvage a point from a scrappy game at the John Smith's Stadium last September, while the South Yorkshire side have taken something from 13 of their 21 away games this season (W3 D10). This is no gimme. Nevertheless, you'd have to back the Blues to win this one given their outstanding home record.
CAN TOWN CATCH LEICESTER?
At one stage it looked like it was going to be a procession for Leicester. Then, for a while, it looked like Enzo Maresca's men might blow it.
Two big home wins in the space of four days - 2-1 against West Brom and 5-0 against Southampton - has moved them onto 94 points and within touching distance of a Premier League return though.
Regardless of what anyone else does, Leicester are up if they win one of their last two games.
They go to Preston this coming Monday (a mid-table team who have lost their last three) and then finish up at home against Blackburn (who may or may not be safe going into that game).
If Leicester lose both those games, Ipswich can finish above them with six points.
If Leicester draw one and lose one, Ipswich can finish above them with two wins and draw.
If Leicester win one and lose one, Ipswich can finish above them (and thus be champions) with a perfect three wins from three.
The first two scenarios are long shots, but Leicester recently losing back-to-back games against Millwall and Plymouth is a reminder anything is possible.
HOW TO SEE OFF SAINTS
A late collapse at Cardiff and midweek humbling by Leicester has left Southampton preparing for the play-offs.
The Saints are six points adrift of the automatic promotion spots with two games to play and have a far inferior goal difference to second-place Leeds. Their top-two race is over.
Two more points would guarantee Ipswich finishing above the Saints. It won't even need that if the South Coast club stumble just once.
If Ipswich are to face Southampton (who they've done the double over) again this season, then it will be at Wembley given neither can drop below fourth.
Russell Martin's men host not-safe-yet Stoke on Saturday, then finish with a game that could well be of major importance to Ipswich...
THE BATTLE WITH LEEDS
There's no getting away from it, seeing Leeds win 4-3 win at in-form Middlesbrough on Monday night was a blow given Boro led 1-0 and got back to 2-2.
Leeds are effectively two points ahead of Town at present by virtue of their superior goal difference (+43 v +32). Ipswich, however, have a game in hand.
If Ipswich win all three of their remaining games then, as mentioned at the top, there's nothing Leeds can do.
If Ipswich take six or seven points, they will need Leeds to draw one of their last two.
If Ipswich take five points, they will need Leeds to lose one of their last two.
If Ipswich take four points, they will need Leeds to lose one and draw one.
If Ipswich take three points, they will need Leeds to lose both.
Daniel Farke's men go to QPR on Friday night, then finish with a home game against Southampton.
Can QPR (much improved under Marti Cifuentes and who won at Leicester as recently as March) cause an upset as they fight to secure Championship status?
Will Southampton be motivated to finish the season on a high, play stress-free and be able to create a sense of anxiety inside Elland Road? Or have they been psychologically damaged by Tuesday night's defeat at Leicester and might Martin rest players going into the play-offs?
To me, it looks like a straight shootout between Ipswich and Leeds to see who can join Leicester in next season's Premier League.
The margin for error is so small. It's impossible to call.
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