(Current league positions in brackets)

Saturday, March 6

Blackpool (8) v Ipswich (17)

Blackpool winger Hameur Bouazza (groin) could be passed fit for his first Blackpool start of 2010, while Billy Clarke (knee) is set to return after three months out and fellow striker Gary Taylor-Fletcher is hopeful of shaking off a groin injury. Defender Rob Edwards is available after a two-game ban.

Gareth McAuley (groin) is unlikely to feature after missing Northern Ireland's game in midweek, while Damien Delaney is trying to shake off a similar, though less serious, problem. Goalkeeper Richard Wright is in contention for the first time since injuring knee ligaments in November, but winger Luciano Civelli (knee) remains sidelined.

Last season: Ipswich 1 Blackpool 1, Blackpool 0 Ipswich 1

Last five league matches: Blackpool L D W W L; Ipswich W L W D D

Top scorers (all competitions): Charlie Adam (Blackpool) 13; Jonathan Walters (Ipswich) 6

Referee: Kevin Wright (Cambridgeshire).

Bristol City (12) v Doncaster (14)

City are hoping to welcome back striker Nicky Maynard after a thigh problem, while Jamal Campbell-Ryce and Ivan Sproule are also likely to feature in some capacity. Marvin Elliott (knee) and Evander Sno (back) each face another fortnight on the sidelines.

Doncaster will be without skipper Brian Stock, whose back injury could jeopardise his participation for the rest of the season, while central defenders Shelton Martis (hamstring), Adam Lockwood (foot) and Jason Shackell (groin) are all sidelined. Midfielder Martin Woods (groin) is still out, but could return to face Derby next weekend.

Last season: Doncaster 1 Bristol City 0, Bristol City 4 Doncaster 1

Last five league matches: Bristol City L L D W D; Doncaster W W L L D

Top scorers (all competitions): Nicky Maynard (Bristol City) 11; Billy Sharp (Doncaster) 13

Referee: D Phillips (Chichester).

Cardiff (6) v Middlesbrough (9)

Cardiff will be without 19-goal top scorer Peter Whittingham (groin) and left-back Mark Kennedy (calf), but goalkeeper David Marshall (knee) is fully fit again and could replace Peter Enckelman. Adam Matthews is hoping to return but fellow defender Gabor Gyepes is struggling with a back problem.

Boro boss Gordon Strachan will make a late decision on striker Scott McDonald, who had injections to address the after-effects of hernia surgery when he saw his specialist last week. Defender Emanuel Pogatetz (knee) remains a doubt, but long-term absentees Chris Riggott (hamstring) and Rhys Williams (pelvis) are back in training.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

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

Top scorers (all competitions): Peter Whittingham (Cardiff) 19; Scott McDonald (Middlesbrough) 14

Referee: Darren Deadman (Cambridgeshire).

Crystal Palace (21) v Sheff Utd (7)

Paul Hart will check on the fitness of Claude Davis, who suffered a knock just five minutes into last weekend's draw at Doncaster, ahead of his first game in charge. Paddy McCarthy (shoulder) remains on the casualty list, but midfielder Neil Danns could return after resting his back injury against Doncaster.

On-loan defender Marcel Seip could return for the Blades after being unable to play against parent club Plymouth last week, but manager Kevin Blackwell is hoping to name an otherwise unchanged starting line-up. Striker Darius Henderson sits out the second match of a three-game ban.

Last season: Crystal Palace 0 Sheff Utd 0, Sheff Utd 2 Crystal Palace 2

Last five league matches: Crystal Palace W L L L D; Sheff Utd D L W L W

Top scorers (all competitions): Darren Ambrose (Crystal Palace) 17; Darius Henderson (Sheff Utd) 12

Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).

Derby (16) v Watford (15)

Leading scorer Rob Hulse is expected to be fit for Derby after a back problem, while fellow forward Steve Davies continued to step up his return to fitness by playing an hour for the reserves this week. Dean Leacock (knee) also played in that game and is on the verge of a return, while Jay McEveley completes a two-match suspension.

Winger Will Buckley is pushing to make his Watford debut, having been sidelined with a thigh problem since joining from Rochdale in January. The Hornets will be without Tom Cleverley, who is banned, while Jay DeMerit is a doubt after picking up a knock playing for the United States against Holland.

Last season: Watford 3 Derby 1, Derby 1 Watford 0

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

Top scorers (all competitions): Rob Hulse (Derby) 10; Tom Cleverley (Watford) 10

Referee: Graham Horwood (Bedfordshire).

Newcastle (1) v Barnsley (11)

Newcastle boss Chris Hughton has welcomed left-back Jose Enrique, striker Peter Lovenkrands (both hamstring) and experienced midfielder Nicky Butt (thigh) back to his squad. Joey Barton (foot) is back in training but will not be risked until Hughton is satisfied of his fitness.

Barnsley manager Mark Robins could name an unchanged line-up, with defender Rob Kozluk not expected to return following a knee injury. Robins has no new injury or suspension problems.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

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

Top scorers (all competitions): Kevin Nolan (Newcastle) 12; Daniel Bogdanovic (Barnsley) 10

Referee: Grant Hegley (Hertfordshire).

Nottm Forest (3) v Swansea (4)

George Boyd is poised to make his Forest debut after joining on loan from Championship rivals Peterborough. Fellow forward Garath McCleary comes back into the reckoning after a three-match suspension, but defender Julian Bennett will not be considered so soon after returning from a 14-month lay-off with knee ligament damage.

For Swansea, Ferrie Bodde has been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a recurrence of his cruciate knee ligament injury, but Darren Pratley (knee) is available. Cedric van der Gun has recovered from a hamstring problem, but captain Garry Monk (calf), Joe Allen (knee), Andrea Orlandi (hamstring), Jordi Lopez (ankle), Albert Serran (hamstring) and Fede Bessone (calf) are all out, while Gorka Pintado is banned.

Last season: Nottm Forest 1 Swansea 1, Swansea 3 Nottm Forest 1

Last five league matches: Nottm Forest L L W W L; Swansea W D D W W

Top scorers (all competitions): George Boyd (Nottm Forest) 12; Shefki Kuqi (Swansea) 9

Referee: Colin Webster (Tyne & Wear).

Peterborough (24) v Coventry (10)

Posh will be without defender Ryan Bennett (ankle), but defender Exodus Geohaghon and on-loan striker Reuben Reid, both carrying knocks, are optimistic of at least making the bench. Josh Simpson (thigh) is doubtful, but loan signing Mark Little should come in for his first start since arriving from Wolves.

Coventry centre-back Richard Wood (hip) could be out for up to three weeks, while fellow defender Leon Barnett is suspended and midfielder David Bell has a cyst in his knee. Sammy Clingan will be assessed after suffering with a virus.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Peterborough W L L W L; Coventry W W L W W

Top scorers (all competitions): Josh Simpson (Peterborough) 9; Carl Baker (Coventry) 13

Referee: Russell Booth (Nottinghamshire).

Plymouth (23) v Preston (13)

Plymouth defender Reda Johnson (groin) is facing a race to be fit after being substituted during the second half at Sheffield United last week, but defender Gary Sawyer (knee) could return.

Midfielder Richard Chaplow (groin) could play for Plymouth after his return was delayed last week when he attended the birth of his second child. He will likely replace the suspended Paul Coutts. Matt James (Achilles) is hoping to be passed fit but fellow Manchester United loanee Danny Welbeck (knee) is out. Skipper Callum Davidson could feature.

Last season: Preston 1 Plymouth 1, Plymouth 1 Preston 0

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

Top scorers (all competitions): Kenny Cooper (Plymouth) 8; Jon Parkin (Preston) 12

Referee: Andy Woolmer (Northamptonshire).

QPR (20) v West Brom (2)

Neil Warnock will check on the fitness of Lee Cook (illness), Matt Connolly (ankle) and Kaspars Gorkss ahead of his first game in charge of QPR. Strikers Tamas Priskin (groin) and Marcus Bent (hamstring) should be fit.

Roman Bednar (groin) is almost certain to be missing again for West Brom, but fit-again striker Ishmael Miller (ankle) and winger Giles Barnes (Achilles) are in contention. Winger Chris Brunt has recovered from a calf strain.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

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

Top scorers (all competitions): Jay Simpson (QPR) 12; Graham Dorrans (West Brom) 13

Referee: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire).

Sheff Wed (22) v Leicester (5)

Sheffield Wednesday skipper Darren Purse is hoping to return after missing two games with a hamstring strain, while winger Jermaine Johnson and striker Francis Jeffers (both hamstring) could also play. Defender Lewis Buxton misses out as he too is dogged by hamstring trouble.

An unchanged Leicester squad will travel to Hillsborough to face struggling Sheffield Wednesday. Boss Nigel Pearson must decide whether to recall any of midfielders Nicky Adams and Nolberto Solano and forwards Steve Howard, Yann Kermorgant and Dany N'Guessan to his line-up.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

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

Top scorers (all competitions): Marcus Tudgay (Sheff Wed) 8; Matt Fryatt (Leicester) 12

Referee: P Gibbs (West Midlands).