Championship preview

It's the last day of the Championship season on Saturday and Southampton can secure their top-flight return with a win at home to Coventry.

Saints aim to clinch promotion; Cardiff eye play-off spot

It's the last day of the Championship season on Saturday and Southampton can secure their top-flight return with a win at home to Coventry. The Saints will know that if they slip up, West Ham could yet pip them to promotion with a convincing win live on Sky Sports HD 2 against Hull at Upton Park. In the play-off battle, Cardiff will guarantee their place in the top six with a win at Crystal Palace. But Middlesbrough can still oust the Bluebirds with victory at Watford. It would require an implausible goal swing for Birmingham to be denied their play-off spot when they host champions Reading at St Andrew's. Blackpool are assured of their involvement in the play-offs but know a win at Millwall would mean the second leg of the semi-final will be played on home turf.

Party mood

In the other fixtures, Barnsley complete their season with a home game against Brighton. Burnley host a Bristol City team in party mood after achieving Championship survival last weekend. The mood is somewhat more sombre at Doncaster where Rovers wave goodbye to the second tier as they host Ipswich. And Portsmouth also make their exit when they travel to play former manager Steve Cotterill's Nottingham Forest. Nigel Clough's Derby could finish as high as ninth if they claim all three points at home to Peterborough. The remaining fixture is between Leeds and Leicester at Elland Road with a top-half finish on offer to the winning team.