Stephy Mavididi gets down the left again, rolls the ball into the box and picks out Abdul Fatawu on the opposite side for Leicester, but Bristol City midfielder Matty James picks his pocket and the hosts spring clear.

Tasty start.

Bristol City already trying to get Anis Mehmeti and Scott Twine in behind down the channels, as Leicester look to squeeze.

The Foxes are closing down sharply, but are yet to really get the ball down and threaten.

Just as I say that, Stephy Mavididi got a yard on the left, curls in the cross, but the hosts just about keep it under their jurisdiction.

Jason Knight's shot deflects behind for Bristol City as he snaps an effort from the edge of the box.

Leicester look a bit rattled.

Scott Twine's corner is cleared. Matty James' shot is blocked by Wout Faes.

Eventually the visitors take the sting out of it and can clear. Phew. Rip-roaring start from the hosts.

Here we go then.

Bristol City can stick a spanner in the works for Leicester, who would just like a win to settle them down and put pressure on their promotion rivals.

Sun's out. We're off as Andrew Kitchen toots on his whistle.

Image source, Rex Features

Just before we get going, a bit of reading and watching for later perhaps?

With the final international break of the season behind us, the Championship now returns for its run-in.

My colleague Ian Woodcock has taken a look at how the league is shaping up, as the battles for promotion to the Premier League - and to avoid relegation to League One - both look set to go right to the wire.

And the BBC's Football News Show has also tried to answer the question of which of Leeds, Leicester, Ipswich and Southampton are Premier League ready.

Leicester players are in calm and confident mood as they assemble in the tunnel at Ashton Gate.

Smiles, high-fives and relaxed chatter.

Bristol City are out now too. Ready to go.

Image source, Rex Features

Image source, Rex Features

Barring an end-of-season miracle at either end of the table, Bristol City find themselves in that classic patch of 'mid-table obscurity' even with eight games left to play.

Liam Manning's 14th-placed side are 14 points behind sixth-placed Norwich, and eight above the drop zone, but there are a glut of clubs above and below that make the permutations less or more favourable depending on context.

So, how does the gaffer play the next few matches, starting with high-flying Leicester?

"Stepping back I think it is about progress," Manning told BBC Radio Bristol.

"It's about getting ready for next season, every game is hugely important to us in terms of stepping on to the pitch and we keep progressing and moving forward.

"I don't see it as one season finishes and the other one starts, I see it as continuously evolving and developing."

Image source, Getty Images

Most managers will have seen the international break as a chance to take stock before the big run in to the finish, but perhaps not Leicester boss Enzo Maresca.

The Italian says action taken against the Foxes over alleged spending breaches made for an "intense" couple of weeks.

The Foxes were last week charged by the Premier League for allegedly breaking profit and sustainability rules (PSR).

The English Football League then put them under a transfer embargo, which prompted legal action from Leicester.

"Thursday it was the first one from the Premier League, then the next day the EFL," Maresca told BBC Radio Leicester.

"We were talking about the international break and finally we can have a break and relax, but it has been quite intense".

Image source, Getty Images

Mads Hermansen and James Justin come in for Leicester from the cup loss to Chelsea before the international break.

Scott Twine, ex-Fox Matty James, Haydon Roberts and Cameron Pring are all in the Bristol City starting XI.

Bristol City: O'Leary, Dickie, Vyner, Roberts, Tanner, Knight, Matty James, Pring, Twine, Mehmeti, Conway.

Subs: McCrorie, Williams, Cornick, King, Sykes, Wells, Bajic, Knight-Lebel, Mebude.

Leicester: Hermansen, Choudhury, Faes, Vestergaard, Justin, Ndidi, Winks, Dewsbury-Hall, Fatawu, Vardy, Mavididi.

Subs: Coady, Albrighton, Iheanacho, Daka, Ricardo Pereira, Praet, Akgun, Marcal-Madivadua, Stolarczyk.

Referee: Andrew Kitchen (Durham)

How do then?

Two early games to keep a focus on.

Bristol City and Leicester kick off at 12:30 GMT, with Millwall and West Brom up and running from 13:00 GMT.

Let's have a little look at those games now.

All fixtures 15:00 GMT unless stated.

• Bristol City v Leicester City (12:30 GMT)
• Millwall v West Bromwich Albion (13:00 GMT)
• Cardiff City v Sunderland
• Huddersfield Town v Coventry City
• Hull City v Stoke City
• Norwich City v Plymouth Argyle
• Preston North End v Rotherham United
• Queens Park Rangers v Birmingham City
• Sheffield Wednesday v Swansea City
• Southampton v Middlesbrough
• Blackburn Rovers v Ipswich Town (17:30 GMT)
• Watford v Leeds United (20:00 GMT)

With the international break now behind, it's full steam ahead to the climax of the 2023-24 Championship season from now until the finish.

Teams have at least eight matches left, with a couple holding games in hand, and there's plenty still to be decided.

With everyone in action today, there's plenty of subplots to follow.

Image source, Rex Features

What do Bob Hoskins and the Championship have in common? The Long Good Friday.

Yep, from the 12:30 GMT kick-off between Bristol City and Leicester City through to the full-time whistle at Watford against Leeds touching 22:00 GMT tonight, there's Championship football practically all the way.

We're in for the long haul. Will your team have a Good Friday to set up the weekend... or will they be sat ruefully on the bus like old Bob did in his commandeered Rolls Royce at the end of the classic gangster film?

Only one way to find out.