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Bristol City might be 17th in the table but Nigel Pearson's men are in very good nick just now. Unbeaten in all competitions since 26 December, a win today might even see (quiet) talk of a late play-off push in the West Country. Visitors Norwich were hammered by runaway league leaders Burnley last week and start the day in 10th.

It's now just one win in nine in for QPR, whose fine start under former boss Mick Beale feels like a lifetime ago. Still, in an incredibly congested table, a victory over London rivals Millwall would put them right back in contention. The eighth-placed Lions would have been starting the day in the top six had they not conceded late on in the draw with Sunderland last week.

Struggling Stoke have lost four of their past five and are just five points above the relegation zone. They could probably do without a visit from a Hull side who are looking for a third straight win.

Sunderland's FA Cup run came to an end with a 3-2 defeat by Premier League Fulham in midweek. Although it wasn't the result they wanted it might have helped to allay fans' fears about scoring goals now that striker Ross Stewart has been ruled out for the season. Paul Ince's Reading are on Wearside today, looking for a first league win since 27 December.

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It’s not often you see such a vital game where both managers will need showing where the dugouts are.

The rock-bottom Latics host the Terriers, still only two points and two places ahead of them after their midweek draw at Blackpool, in which they led until stoppage time.

It would have been their first win in five games on the road but instead turned into Mark Fotheringham’s final match in charge, he left the following day after just 134 days at the helm.

Narcis Pelach is in interim charge this afternoon while Wigan’s Shaun Maloney takes charge of a home game for the first time, seeking to end a couple of unwanted records… Wigan have lost four in a row and nine of their last 11 at home while the last three permanent Latics managers have all lost their first home game as boss.

Wigan showed decent resolve to draw 0-0 at Blackburn on Monday and though they have won just one of their last 16, in a division where the bottom six are separated by just seven points, things can change quickly.

‘The Big One’ is something Blackpool is world famous for, but there’s a fixture in town today which overshadows even that giant rollercoaster.

Mick McCarthy’s second-bottom Tangerines host Rotherham, still three places and five points ahead of them, despite Blackpool's last-gasp equaliser against Huddersfield at Bloomfield Road on Tuesday night.

Blackpool have a dreadful record against the Millers, they are winless in their last 11 meetings, claiming just three points, and haven’t tasted victory since John Major was PM.

They’re no great shakes against anyone at the moment, if truth be told, winless in a dozen league games and six without a win at home.

On paper, Matt Taylor’s Rotherham shouldn’t hold too much fear, they haven’t won in five on their travels and have just two wins in their last 21 away games in the Championship.

Disclaimer: Watford and Blackburn are not two sides in form.

Slaven Bilic's Hornets and Jon Dahl Tomasson's Rovers are both winless in three in the Championship.

In fact, faltering Watford have managed just three wins in their past 10 games in the league.

Still, Watford are in the play-off places in fifth. Blackburn themselves are just one point and one place outside the top six themselves.

If promotion ambitions at these two clubs are genuine, then a big result today feels like a must.

Luton Town might have been sent crashing out of the FA Cup by League Two Grimsby earlier in the week, but their Championship form has been sensational of late.

In fact, after winning their past three games away from home they could notch up a 40-year first today.

Not since 1983 have they managed to win four straight league games away from home while in the top two divisions of English football (they did it 40 years ago as a top-flight club).

The last time they won four on the spin in the league at any level was much more recent - just the 21 years ago in 2002.

While Luton have won six of their past seven games in the league, Coventry are the opposite with just the one win from their past seven Championship matches.

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Since the arrival of Michael Carrick as boss in October, Middlesbrough have rocketed up the table and firmly established themselves as a fearsome Championship force.

Only the top two, Burnley and Sheffield United, have collected more points than third-placed Boro since Carrick took the helm at the Riverside.

Today they head to Wales looking for their third win on the spin and third clean sheet in a row.

The Cardiff City side that awaits them are in all sorts of strife in 21st place in the table. This being the club that is said to be in 'permacrisis'.

Sabri Lamouchi has so far overseen two 1-0 defeats as Bluebirds boss. Their record in generally woeful, having scored just once in their past seven games in the league.

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This weekend's EFL action go under way on Friday night as Birmingham claimed a 2-0 win over West Midlands rivals West Brom.

Hannibal Mejbri gave Blues the lead in the first half when his disguised free-kick beat David Button at his near post.

The on-loan Manchester United midfielder then assisted Krystian Bielik for the second to help John Eustace's men complete the double over the Baggies this season and secure back-to-back wins to allay any relegation fears.

Carlos Corberan's men remain sixth but have now lost two of their past three.

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Second-placed Sheffield United welcome opposition from over the Welsh border for the second time this week.

National League leaders Wrexham put up a stubborn fight in their FA Cup fourth-round replay before eventually succumbing to late goals from Billy Sharp and Sander Berge, although Sharp's post-match comments made as many headlines as the game itself...

Paul Heckingbottom has been quick to move on from that and put the focus on to a game that the Blades, unbeaten since 8 November, will be targeting another maximum in front of their own fans.

Swansea suffered a dramatic 4-3 home defeat by Birmingham City last week and their failure to add to the squad in January has left fans, players and staff alike unhappy.

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Runaway Championship leaders Burnley are in irresistible form.

Vincent Kompany's men have won their past NINE league matches and are through to the fifth round of the FA Cup.

They start the day 17 points clear of third-placed Middlesbrough and promotion to the Premier League now seems to be a mere formality.

Lancashire rivals Preston will hope to spring a major surprise in a bid to get their flagging play-off bid kick-started.

Ryan Lowe's men are just four points outside the top six but all is not well at Deepdale and the manager voiced his displeasure at the "vile abuse" he and the team were subjected to by some fans in the 2-1 home defeat by Bristol City last week.

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• Blackpool v Rotherham United
• Bristol City v Norwich City
• Burnley v Preston North End
• Cardiff City v Middlesbrough
• Coventry City v Luton Town
• Queens Park Rangers v Millwall
• Sheffield United v Swansea City
• Stoke City v Hull City
• Sunderland v Reading
• Watford v Blackburn Rovers
• Wigan Athletic v Huddersfield Town

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We've got an absolutely jam-packed afternoon in the EFL for you today.

Eleven games in the Championship and the full complement in Leagues One and Two, with all 35 games kicking off at 15:00 GMT.

Can Burnley and Sheffield United continue their seemingly inevitable march back to the Premier League?

Will Ipswich be the first team to beat League One leaders Sheffield Wednesday in the league since the start of October?

How will Swindon Town get on in Jody Morris' first home game in charge of the League Two outfit?

Thirty minutes until kick off, let's take a look at what's ahead of us.