Image source, Getty Images

Aston Villa could have panicked when they were 18th in the table with just one win in mid-September, but they didn't.

Nor did they panic after Boxing Day's loss at Brentford saw them drop out of the play-off places, three points below Leeds (who went on the finish 13th).

Instead, seven straight league wins followed that loss at Griffin Park and, while their bid for a top-two spot fell seven points short, Villa have looked pretty comfortable for a play-off place throughout the latter stages of the season.

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To a certain extent, Middlesbrough's season can be split in to two halves: before and after Christmas.

Following their relegation last term, the club were ninth when they sacked Garry Monk on 23 December, just hours after beating Sheffield Wednesday.

Tony Pulis - who began the season at West Bromwich Albion - was appointed to replace him on Boxing Day.

His first full game in charge saw them lose to today's opponents Aston Villa.

But 11 victories and only five league defeats followed, while four wins in April helped clinch fifth spot.

These sides were separated by seven points after the regular 46-game season, with Villa winning two more games than Boro.

The hosts arrive at the play-offs on a four-game unbeaten run, while Villa's own streak of four matches without loss was ended with last Sunday's defeat at Millwall.

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Now then, let's all take a moment to observe John Terry's wash bag.

Nothing shows your family how much they mean to you like a personalised container for your toiletries, eh?

Matt Newsum
BBC Sport at the Riverside Stadium

The Riverside Stadium in Middlesbrough, set amongst the redevelopment of Middlehaven, is one of the shining examples of how a town dealt a tough hand by industrial decline can be revamped and repurposed.

Much can be said of the town's football club under Tony Pulis, a salt-of-the-earth Welshman from the equally-tough town of Newport in South Wales.

Pulis has reinvigorated Boro and given their flat-lining promotion bid the kiss of life. Britt Assombalonga is buzzing, Patrick Bamford a man charged and Adama Traore a livewire at times on another level - even to his own team-mates!

Steve Bruce, a Corbridge lad from up the road near Newcastle, will know all about their heritage and history. His Aston Villa side have the task of coming away from Teesside with a result.

With his experience and nous of promotion, Villa will be as prepared as anyone for it. John Terry will roar his team on, while Albert Adomah - once feted here at the Riverside in his time as a Boro player - will be a key outlet.

So, who do you think will win the Championship play-offs and why?

And has your mind been changed at all after Derby's 1-0 win over Fulham?

Get in touch using #bbcefl on social media.

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In the other semi-final, Derby will take a slender one-goal advantage in to Monday's second leg at Craven Cottage after Cameron Jerome's powerful header beat Fulham last night.

The London side, who finished 13 points above the sixth-placed Rams in the table, had 74% of possession but only two shots on target.

You can read Owen Phillips' match report from Pride Park here.

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Visitors Aston Villa make six changes, with Steve Bruce having rested several key players for last Sunday's loss at Millwall.

John Terry, Jack Grealish and Lewis Grabban are among those to return to the starting XI, with strikers Jonathan Kodjia and Scott Hogan dropping to the bench.

Villa: Johnstone, Elmohamady, Chester, Terry, Hutton, Snodgrass, Hourihane, Jedinak, Adomah, Grealish, Grabban.

Subs: Bunn, Samba, Whelan, Bjarnason, Onomah, Hogan, Kodjia.

As promised by manager Tony Pulis during the week, Middlesbrough are unchanged from the side that drew at Ipswich last Sunday.

Patrick Bamford - who scored the stoppage-time equaliser at Portman Road that ensured Boro would face Villa today, rather than taking on third-placed Fulham last night - is on the bench.

Boro: Randolph, Shotton, Ayala, Gibson, Friend, Clayton, Besic, Howson, Traore, Downing, Assombalonga.

Subs: Konstantopoulos, Cranie, Fabio, Fry, Leadbitter, Harrison, Bamford.

Image source, PA

Good evening. I'm guessing you've heard the play-offs are on? Good stuff. Welcome!

The semi-final first legs roll on with a meeting of two Championship sides who could prove to be very evenly matched.

It's Middlesbrough v Aston Villa, and it's live in 30 minutes' time. Let's crack straight on with the build-up, starting with the team news.