Saturday March 31

Barnsley (20) v Derby (1)

Antony Kay and Rob Atkinson are vying for a place in Barnsley's starting line-up - with on-loan central defender Lewin Nyatanga forbidden to play against his parent club. On-loan West Ham winger Kyel Reid is expected to be a straight replacement for Martin Devaney, who is suspended.

Derby will be without top scorer Steve Howard, who is serving a two-match ban after receiving 10 bookings for the season. Jon Macken is favourite to start up front.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Barnsley W L L W L; Derby W W L D W

Top scorers: Brian Howard & Grant McCann (Barnsley) 8; Steve Howard (Derby) 17

Match odds: H 2-1 A 11-10 D 11-5

Referee: K Friend (Leicestershire).

Burnley (18) v Luton (23)

Burnley boss Steve Cotterill could give debuts to Graham Coughlan and Paul McVeigh. Striker Andy Gray is set to return after illness and defenders Wayne Thomas (knee), Steven Caldwell (shoulder and hand) and John McGreal (groin) have all trained this week and are available.

New Luton boss Kevin Blackwell has virtually a fully-fit squad to choose from. Ahmet Brkovic and Sam Parkin (both ankle) and Paul Underwood (illness) are out.

Last season: Burnley 1 Luton 1, Luton 2 Burnley 3

Last five league matches: Burnley L D D L L; Luton L L L L L

Top scorers: Andy Gray (Burnley) 10; Dean Morgan (Luton) 5

Match odds: H 10-11 A 5-2 D 11-5

Referee: M Thorpe (Suffolk).

Cardiff (7) v Sunderland (3)

Cardiff could have Championship top scorer Michael Chopra and midfielder Riccardo Scimeca available. Captain Darren Purse is doubtful with a back injury.

Sunderland winger Carlos Edwards has targeted next week's home game against Wolves as his comeback from a shoulder injury. Nyron Nosworthy has injured his ankle in training and Kenny Cunningham and Stanislav Varga are on standby, while striker Stephen Elliott may figure after ankle surgery.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Cardiff W L W D L; Sunderland W W W D W

Top scorers: Michael Chopra (Cardiff) 21; Anthony Stokes (Sunderland) 17

Match odds: H 13-8 A 11-8 D 21-10

Referee: A D'Urso (Essex).

Colchester (10) v Norwich (15)

Skipper Karl Duguid is expected to return to the Colchester starting line-up after a knee injury - he may return at right-back in place of youngster John White or be pushed further up the field on either flank. Winger Kevin McLeod is making rapid progress following a hernia operation a fortnight ago but he is unlikely to be risked. Midfielder Johnnie Jackson has been carrying a knock of late but is fit.

Norwich hand a late fitness test to captain Adam Drury (ankle) - if he misses out, Simon Lappin is set to deputise at left-back with Mark Fotheringham or Luke Chadwick moving into midfield. Chris Martin (hamstring) is a slight doubt, while fellow striker Chris Brown (hamstring) remains sidelined.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Colchester D L D L W; Norwich W L L W W

Top scorers: Jamie Cureton (Colchester) 17; Robert Earnshaw (Norwich) 17

Match odds: H 1-1 A 11-5 D 11-5

Referee: I Williamson (Berkshire).

Crystal Palace (11) v Sheff Wed (12)

Palace could have winger Jobi McAnuff and midfielder Mark Kennedy (both hamstring) back, while winger Paul Ifill (Achilles) also has a good chance of recovering. Midfielder Ben Watson (flu) is a doubt.

Jermaine Johnson (knee) is a doubt for Wednesday and full-back Frank Simek is suspended, so either Steve Watson or Lee Bullen will fill in. Kenny Lunt and Yoann Folly will hope to start if Watson is dropped back from midfield to cover for Simek, while Tommy Spurr is an option. Wade Small (knee) remains absent.

Last season: Sheff Wed 0 Crystal Palace 0, Crystal Palace 2 Sheff Wed 0

Last five league matches: Crystal Palace W D W W L; Sheff Wed W D D W D

Top scorers: Clinton Morrison (Crystal Palace) 10; Steven MacLean (Sheff Wed) 11

Match odds: H 10-11 A 5-2 D 11-5

Referee: A Hall (W Midlands).

Hull (19) v Southend (22)

Hull talisman Nick Barmby is set to return to the starting line-up after ankle ligament damage. Tigers boss Phil Brown is hoping midfielder Dave Livermore and on-loan Bolton striker Ricardo Vaz Te will be passed fit after knee trouble.

Southend defender Adam Barrett has not played for five weeks since undergoing double hernia surgery, but despite being ruled fit to play for the reserves next week he is not fit to feature against 19th-placed Hull. He is joined on the sidelines by midfielder Alan McCormack, who serves the second of his two-match suspension.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Hull L L W W L; Southend L D W W D

Top scorers: Dean Windass (Hull) 16; Freddy Eastwood (Southend) 16

Match odds: H 10-11 A 5-2 D 11-5

Referee: L Mason (Lancashire).

Ipswich (16) v Plymouth (13)

Ipswich captain Jason de Vos (foot) faces a late fitness test, and with fellow defender Richard Naylor (toe) and Dan Harding (suspension) out, Ian Miller is in line to make his Town debut. David Wright is expected to take the left-back slot with Fabian Wilnis coming in on the right. Gary Roberts (groin) is a slight doubt while fellow midfielder Sylvain Legwinski (foot) will not figure again this term.

Plymouth's teenage winger Dan Gosling faces a race to be fit after suffering a hip injury while on international duty with England Under-17s. Defender Tony Capaldi is doubtful.

Last season: Plymouth 2 Ipswich 1, Ipswich 3 Plymouth 1

Last five league matches: Ipswich W W L L W; Plymouth D D D L W

Top scorers: Alan Lee (Ipswich) 15; Barry Hayles (Plymouth) 11

Match odds: H 11-10 A 2-1 D 11-5

Referee: J Moss (West Yorkshire).

QPR (21) v West Brom (6)

QPR could hand a debut to loan signing Rohan Ricketts. Rangers boss John Gregory also hopes to have forward Dexter Blackstock and midfielder Martin Rowlands back.

West Brom defender Martin Albrechtsen is back from suspension, but there are worries over striker John Hartson, who has recovered from his knee problem, but has been forced to miss training with a back problem.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: QPR D L D D W; West Brom D L L L D

Top scorers: Dexter Blackstock (QPR) 9; Diomansy Kamara (West Brom) 21

Match odds: H 19-10 A 23-20 D 11-5

Referee: P Armstrong (Berkshire).

Stoke (9) v Leicester (17)

Stoke's Carl Hoefkens suffered a suspected broken bone in his foot in Belgium's 4-0 defeat to Portugal but scans have shown there was no fracture and he has an outside chance of making the starting line-up. Andy Griffin is banned so captain Danny Higginbotham may move to left-back if he shakes off a thigh problem. Lee Hendrie has a chance of returning after knee trouble but Salif Diao (groin) and Liam Lawrence (leg) are doubts.

Leicester manager Rob Kelly welcomes back Matty Fryatt and Levi Porter after respective ankle and hamstring injuries. Gareth McAuley (hamstring) and shoulder victim Paddy McCarthy miss out.

Last season: Stoke 3 Leicester 2, Leicester 4 Stoke 2

Last five league matches: Stoke L D W D L; Leicester D D L D L

Top scorers: Ricardo Fuller (Stoke) 8; Iain Hume (Leicester) 13

Match odds: H 5-6 A 11-4 D 11-5

Referee: E Ilderton (Tyne & Wear).

Wolves (5) v Southampton (8)

Wolves goalkeeper Matt Murray is expected to play for Wolves following a knee injury. Defender Jamie Clapham is pushing for a recall after intensive treatment on a minor hamstring tear, while full-back Charlie Mulgrew could make the squad following ankle ligament damage.

Gareth Bale (toe) and Claus Lundekvam (pelvis) are the latest players added to Saints' casualty list - both face late fitness tests. Grzegorz Rasiak (virus), Kenwyne Jones (ankle) are out, Djamel Belmadi has only just resumed training following a torn calf and is unlikely to be risked, while fellow midfielder Jhon Viafara may not arrive from back from Colombia in time to play. Goalkeeper Kelvin Davis is suspended.

Last season: Wolves 0 Southampton 0, Southampton 0 Wolves 0

Last five league matches: Wolves W W W L D; Southampton W L L D L

Top scorers: Michael Kightly (Wolves) 17; Grzegorz Rasiak (Southampton) 20

Match odds: H 19-20 A 23-10 D 9-4

Referee: G Salisbury (Lancashire).

Sunday April 1

Birmingham (2) v Coventry (14)

On-loan Portsmouth striker Andy Cole is expected to make his debut for Birmingham. However, Gary McSheffrey is still suspended for the clash against his old club.

Senegal international Khalilou Fadiga could make a return to the Coventry squad for the clash with Birmingham on Sunday after returning from compassionate leave following the death of his mother. Michael Mifsud, who scored in the 4-1 demolition of Barnsley last time out, should also feature after coming through Malta'sEuro 2008 qualifier against Greece on Wednesday unscathed.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Birmingham W W W L D; Coventry D W D W W

Top scorers: Gary McSheffrey (Birmingham) 17; Michael Mifsud (Coventry) 10

Match odds: H 4-6 A 7-2 D 23-10

Referee: T M Kettle (Rutland).