A look at the team news ahead of this weekend's Championship matches, with Stoke knowing a win at Colchester could see them promoted to the top flight.

(Current league positions in brackets)

Saturday, April 26

Barnsley (19) v Charlton (11)

Jamal Campbell-Ryce is expected to step in for Martin Devaney, who is struggling with a hamstring injury. Otherwise, Tykes boss Simon Davey is likely to name an unchanged line-up.

Alan Pardew is set to bring Jonjo Shelvey and Scott Wagstaff into his Charlton squad - midfielder Shelvey would become Charlton's youngest player, aged 16 years 59 days, if he gets on while winger Wagstaff, 18, is also in line to make his debut. Zheng Zhi (groin) is a doubt while Sam Sodje (toe), Lloyd Sam (thigh) and Jerome Thomas (hamstring) are still out, and Yassin Moutaouakil is suspended.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

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

Top scorers: Brian Howard (Barnsley) 14; Andy Gray (Charlton) 14

Referee: Richard Beeby (Northamptonshire).

Burnley (12) v Cardiff (13)

Burnley boss Owen Coyle is again without Kyle Lafferty and Stanislav Varga - striker Lafferty has had his appendix removed in an emergency operation, while on-loan Sunderland defender Varga requires surgery on a foot problem. Michael Duff comes into contention after recovering from multiple knee ligament damage.

Cardiff manager Dave Jones could give his fringe players a chance to stake their FA Cup final claims. Darcy Blake, Riccardo Scimeca and Steve Thompson could figure, while Trevor Sinclair hopes for a recall to the 16-man squad. Paul Parry, Warren Feeney and Robbie Fowler are again sidelined by injury.

Last season: Burnley 2 Cardiff 0, Cardiff 1 Burnley 0

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

Top scorers: Ade Akinbiyi & Robbie Blake (Burnley) 9; Paul Parry (Cardiff) 10

Referee: Andy Hall.

Colchester (24) v Stoke (2)

Matt Heath should return to the Colchester defence after recovering from a tight groin and striker Teddy Sheringham is also in full training following a foot problem. Defender Pat Baldwin, winger Mark Yeates and goalkeeper Aidan Davison (all shoulder) are the only long-term injury absentees.

Stoke boss Tony Pulis hopes Mamady Sidibe is fit to play after ankle trouble - Shola Ameobi stands by. Dominic Matteo is pushing for a return after a foot problem, while Andy Griffin (hamstring) is struggling, so defender Ryan Shawcross should again deputise. Salif Diao (hamstring) is close to a return.

Last season: Stoke 3 Colchester 1, Colchester 3 Stoke 0

Last five league matches: Colchester L L W D L; Stoke D D L W W

Top scorers: Kevin Lisbie (Colchester) 17; Ricardo Fuller & Liam Lawrence (Stoke) 15

Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire).

Coventry (17) v Wolves (7)

Coventry boss Chris Coleman has doubts over midfield duo Stephen Hughes and Kevin Thornton who both have ankle injuries. Fellow midfielder Michael Doyle missed training earlier in the week, but returned on Thursday and should be fit to feature in the game. Defender David McNamee is back in full training after being sidelined since September with a hamstring injury, but the game will come too soon for him.

Mick McCarthy could name an unchanged Wolves side after the 3-0 victory over Cardiff on Tuesday night revived their play-off hopes. Michael Gray missed the midweek clash with a bruised shin but is expected to return to contention. Karl Henry is making progress with his knee injury but remains on the sidelines along with Rob Edwards (ankle) and midfielder David Edwards (knee).

Last season: Coventry 2 Wolves 1, Wolves 1 Coventry 0

Last five league matches: Coventry W D L L W; Wolves W D L D W

Top scorers: Michael Mifsud (Coventry) 16; Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (Wolves) 24

Referee: Paul Armstrong (Berkshire).

Hull (3) v Crystal Palace (6)

Defender Wayne Brown appears to have won his fitness battle after a calf injury. Winger Richard Garcia (shoulder) remains doubtful after sitting out two games with fitness doubts also lingering over Jay-Jay Okocha. Midfielder Nick Barmby played for the reserves in midweek after groin trouble, but it remains to be seen what part the former England international will play in the remainder of the season.

James Scowcroft is close to returning to the Crystal Palace squad following a hamstring injury but defender Matt Lawrence is out following a hernia operation. Danny Butterfield is set to deputise at right-back. Winger Scott Sinclair should be available despite coming off with a tight hamstring at Watford last week.

Last season: Crystal Palace 1 Hull 1, Hull 1 Crystal Palace 1

Last five league matches: Hull W W D W L; Crystal Palace D D W W W

Top scorers: Fraizer Campbell (Hull) 14; Clinton Morrison (Crystal Palace) 15

Referee: R Booth (Sutton Ashfield).

Leicester (20) v Sheff Wed (22)

Lee Hendrie is Leicester's only fresh injury concern because of an Achilles injury which he aggravated during the last game at Barnsley. Captain Stephen Clemence continues to be absent following a heel operation while fellow midfielder Levi Porter (cruciate ligament) and striker Elvis Hammond (knee) also remain sidelined and are not expected to feature before the end of the season.

Burton O'Brien (thigh) and Richard Hinds (ankle) will miss Wednesday's last two matches. Defender Peter Gilbert is suspended, winger Wade Small (hamstring) and midfielder Sean McAllister (calf) miss out, while midfielders Graham Kavanagh (hamstring) and Steve Watson (groin) may face late fitness tests.

Last season: Leicester 1 Sheff Wed 4, Sheff Wed 2 Leicester 1

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

Top scorers: Iain Hume (Leicester) 10; Leon Clarke (Sheff Wed) 9

Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside).

Norwich (18) v QPR (14)

Forwards Dion Dublin and Darren Huckerby will make their final appearances at Carrow Road. Dublin, 39, is retiring at the end of the season while Huckerby has not been offered a new contract. On-loan Chelsea left-back Ryan Bertrand (hamstring) is again a doubt, while Darel Russell could return after being rested.

Fitz Hall (groin) and Patrick Agyemang (hamstring) are injury doubts for QPR. Michael Mancienne would return to the back four if Hall is ruled out, probably at right-back with Matthew Connolly moving across. Rowan Vine is out following a broken leg so teenager Angelo Balanta should keep his place in attack alongside Dexter Blackstock.

Last season: Norwich 1 QPR 0, QPR 3 Norwich 3

Last five league matches: Norwich W L W L L; QPR D D D D W

Top scorers: Jamie Cureton (Norwich) 14; Patrick Agyemang (QPR) 13

Referee: Phil Joslin (Nottinghamshire).

Plymouth (10) v Blackpool (16)

Winger Peter Halmosi is still troubled by a niggling knee injury so the Hungarian may be rested. There could be recalls for a whole host of players, including Chris Clarke, Jermaine Easter and Lilian Nalis as Paul Sturrock looks towards next season.

Blackpool boss Simon Grayson will be reluctant to make changes after the 2-1 defeat of Sheffield Wednesday last weekend. Paul Dickov and Claus Jorgensen are likely to retain their places.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

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

Top scorers: Jamie Mackie (Plymouth) 16; Ben Burgess (Blackpool) 9

Referee: Kevin Wright (Cambridgeshire).

Preston (15) v Ipswich (8)

Defenders Sean St Ledger (hamstring) and Billy Jones (Achilles) are unlikely to feature in Preston's remaining two games so right-back Michael Hart and central defender Neal Trotman could land home debuts. On-loan West Brom striker Craig Beattie should feature after recovering from a torn hamstring.

Ipswich could have on-loan striker Shefki Kuqi back after hamstring injuries. Midfielder David Norris is also close to a recall after his heel problem but will not be rushed back. Jonathan Walters will continue in attack fresh from his rapid return from knee surgery. Velice Sumulikoski could be sidelined for up to three months with a partially torn artery in his shin while Richard Naylor is out after neck surgery.

Last season: Preston 1 Ipswich 0, Ipswich 2 Preston 3

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

Top scorers: Neil Mellor (Preston) 9; Pablo Counago & Jonathan Walters (Ipswich) 12

Referee: Eddie Ilderton (Tyne & Wear).

Sheff Utd (9) v Bristol City (4)

Blades defender Derek Geary returns after a groin problem but the Blades are without suspended skipper Chris Morgan and Ugo Ehiogu is expected to partner Matt Kilgallon in central defence. Manager Kevin Blackwell has no other new injury or suspension problems and is not expected to make any other changes.

Bristol City's Steve Brooker is expected to be fit following a hamstring injury. Lee Johnson has missed the last two matches with an ankle injury but may be ready to return.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Sheff Utd L W D W W; Bristol City L W L D L

Top scorers: James Beattie (Sheff Utd) 22; Dele Adebola (Bristol City) 12

Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).

Watford (5) v Scunthorpe (23)

Hornets manager Adrian Boothroyd has no fresh injury concerns. Tamas Priskin could be dropped, with either Nathan Ellington or Steve Kabba expected to partner Darius Henderson. Collins John has been sent back to Fulham after a fruitless loan spell was cut short by a thigh injury while midfielder Gareth Williams could come into contention for the play-offs after a year out with a knee injury.

Nigel Adkins has the luxury of choosing from an unchanged squad for Scunthorpe. The Iron manager could be tempted to recall former Leeds midfielder Ian Morris to his starting line-up following his impact when replacing Jim Goodwin in last week's 3-2 win over Cardiff.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

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

Top scorers: Darius Henderson (Watford) 12; Martin Paterson (Scunthorpe) 14

Match odds: H 1-2 A 9-2 D 13-5

Referee: Andy D'Urso (Essex).

Sporting Life / Eurosport