Saturday, March 17

Coventry (14) v Barnsley (20)

Coventry striker Leon McKenzie is available but fellow forward Kevin Kyle is expected to miss out again. McKenzie has returned to training after thigh trouble but Kyle continues to struggle with a hip problem.

Tykes boss Simon Davey is expected to name an unchanged starting line-up. The Tykes bounced back from two successive home defeats to win at Plymouth on Wednesday and Davey has no new injury or suspension problems.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

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

Top scorers: Michael Mifsud (Coventry) 9; Brian Howard & Grant McCann (Barnsley) 8

Match odds: H 4-5 A 11-4 D 23-10

Referee: M Russell (Hertfordshire).

Derby (2) v Cardiff (7)

Derby boss Billy Davies could hand a debut to Darren Currie. The midfielder has joined the Rams on loan from Ipswich until the end of the season and is set to feature, with Stephen Pearson still sidelined.

Cardiff could have skipper Darren Purse back for the first time in nine Championship matches. The central defender has been sidelined with a back strain picked up in the 2-1 win at Wolves in January.

Last season: Cardiff 0 Derby 0, Derby 2 Cardiff 1

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

Top scorers: Steve Howard (Derby) 15; Michael Chopra (Cardiff) 21

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

Referee: M Atkinson (W Yorkshire).

Leicester (16) v QPR (22)

Leicester's striking options could be boosted by the return of Matty Fryatt, who has been sidelined with a foot injury since January but returned to training prior to last week's defeat at Crystal Palace and has stepped up his recovery.

QPR could be without Dexter Blackstock and Martin Rowlands. Striker Blackstock is still struggling with the hamstring injury which kept him out of the draw at Derby in midweek, with midfielder Rowlands suffering from a similar injury picked up at Pride Park.

Last season: QPR 2 Leicester 3, Leicester 1 QPR 2

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

Top scorers: Iain Hume (Leicester) 12; Dexter Blackstock (QPR) 9

Match odds: H 4-5 A 11-4 D 23-10

Referee: N Swarbrick (Lancashire).

Luton (23) v Ipswich (17)

Caretaker boss Brian Stein could make changes to Luton's line-up for his first game in charge. Stein may hand recalls to Bjorn Runstrom, Warren Feeney and Dean Morgan. But the former Luton striker faces an anxious wait on the fitness of goalkeeper Marlon Beresford, with youngster Dean Brill on stand-by. Midfielder Ahmet Brkovic (ankle) remains sidelined along with utility-man Paul Underwood (illness).

Matt Richards and Dan Harding face late fitness checks for Ipswich. Midfielder Richards and full-back Harding suffered ankle strains in Tuesday's defeat by Preston and will be assessed closer to kick-off.

Last season: Luton 1 Ipswich 0, Ipswich 1 Luton 0

Last five league matches: Luton L L L L L; Ipswich L W W L L

Top scorers: Dean Morgan (Luton) 5; Alan Lee (Ipswich) 14

Match odds: H 13-10 A 13-8 D 11-5

Referee: A D'Urso (Essex).

Norwich (15) v Stoke (9)

Norwich boss Peter Grant could name an unchanged side for the third successive game. Luke Chadwick made his first appearance since November as a late substitute in the midweek win over Birmingham but is not expected to start as he continues to return to match fitness after a knee injury.

Stoke boss Tony Pulis will again be without Dominic Matteo. The former Liverpool man is set to see a specialist to discover the extent of the foot injury which has kept him out for the last three games. On-loan Manchester United winger Lee Martin is a slight doubt with a thigh problem.

Last season: Norwich 2 Stoke 1, Stoke 3 Norwich 1

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

Top scorers: Robert Earnshaw (Norwich) 17; Ricardo Fuller (Stoke) 8

Match odds: H 5-4 A 7-4 D 11-5

Referee: P Taylor (Hertfordshire).

Plymouth (13) v Crystal Palace (10)

Plymouth manager Ian Holloway is almost certain to change his starting line-up following the 4-2 home defeat by Barnsley. Top scorer Barry Hayles - with 11 goals - has forced his way back in contention after recovering from a thigh injury and featuring as a second-half substitute against the Tykes.

Palace could have three key players back. Wing duo Jobi McAnuff and Paul Ifill and forward Shefki Kuqi are set to return. Kuqi has been struggling with a knee problem in recent weeks, while respective hamstring and Achilles problems have kept McAnuff and Ifill on the sidelines.

Last season: Plymouth 2 Crystal Palace 0, Crystal Palace 1 Plymouth 0

Last five league matches: Plymouth W D D D L; Crystal Palace W W D W W

Top scorers: Barry Hayles (Plymouth) 11; Clinton Morrison (Crystal Palace) 10

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

Referee: R Booth (Nottinghamshire).

Preston (4) v Burnley (18)

Preston boss Paul Simpson waits on the fitness of Paul McKenna (hernia), Michael Ricketts (calf) and Lewis Neal (neck).

Burnley defenders Stephen Foster (Achilles), John McGreal (groin) and Michael Duff (knee) all picked up knocks in Tuesday`s 1-0 loss at Southend and join Alan Mahon (hamstring) in facing late fitness tests.

Last season: Burnley 0 Preston 2, Preston 0 Burnley 0

Last five league matches: Preston W L W L W; Burnley L L D D L

Top scorers: David Nugent (Preston) 15; Andy Gray (Burnley) 10

Match odds: H 8-11 A 10-3 D 11-5

Referee: C Webster (Tyne & Wear).

Sheff Wed (12) v Wolves (5)

Steve Watson is expected to return for Sheffield Wednesday. The former Everton and West Brom midfielder missed the midweek win over Colchester with a calf strain but should reclaim his place. Kenny Lunt may have to settle for a place on the substitutes' bench.

Wolves defender Jackie McNamara starts a two-match ban - Jamie Clapham is likely to come in. Captain Karl Henry (bruised spleen) continues to struggle after two matches out, while goalkeeper Matt Murray will have a late fitness test on a jarred knee. Full-back Charlie Mulgrew is close to a return after ankle trouble.

Last season: Wolves 1 Sheff Wed 3, Sheff Wed 0 Wolves 2

Last five league matches: Sheff Wed W W D D W; Wolverhampton W W W W L

Top scorers: Chris Brunt & Steven MacLean (Sheff Wed) 10; Michael Kightly (Wolves) 17

Match odds: H 7-4 A 5-4 D 11-5

Referee: J Moss (West Yorkshire).

Southend (21) v Leeds (24)

Southend will be without combative midfielder Alan McCormack, who begins a two-game suspension after picking up a 10th booking of the season at Ipswich on Saturday.

Leeds midfielder Alan Thompson (hamstring) lasted 13 minutes when he returned from injury at Leicester in midweek, on-loan Wolves striker Jemal Johnson was knocked out at the Walkers Stadium, Eddie Lewis is struggling with a back injury and full-back Armando Sa has a hamstring problem.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

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

Top scorers: Freddy Eastwood (Southend) 16; Tresor Kandol (Leeds) 14

Match odds: H 6-5 A 9-5 D 11-5

Referee: N Miller (Co Durham).

Sunderland (3) v Hull (19)

Sunderland boss Roy Keane is hoping on-loan Manchester United defender Jonny Evans will be fit. Evans suffered from blurred vision in Tuesday's 2-2 draw at Stoke which forced him off at half-time.

Hull striker Nicky Forster is a doubt after limping out of Tuesday's 2-1 win at Luton with a hip injury. Ricardo Vaz Te, on loan from Bolton, comes into contention.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

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

Top scorers: Anthony Stokes (Sunderland) 17; Dean Windass (Hull) 16

Match odds: H 4-9 A 5-1 D 11-4

Referee: T Bates (Staffordshire).

Sunday, March 18

West Brom (6) v Birmingham (1)

West Brom captain Curtis Davies misses the rest of the season after breaking a metatarsal, while Martin Albrechtsen serves a one-match ban. Nathan Ellington is available after suspension but fellow striker John Hartson (knee) remains a doubt.

Birmingham are again without striker Gary McSheffrey, who serves the second game of a three-match ban following his dismissal against Derby at St Andrews last week.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

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

Top scorers: Diomansy Kamara (West Brom) 21; Gary McSheffrey (Birmingham) 17

Match odds: H 5-4 A 15-8 D 2-1

Referee: G Turner (Derbyshire).