With leaders Stoke travelling to QPR on Sunday, Bristol City can go top of the Championship with victory at home to eighth-placed Hull.

SATURDAY

Bristol City (2) v Hull (8)

City defender Bradley Orr is suspended, so Cole Skuse, Brian Wilson and Christian Ribeiro will contest the vacant right-back slot. Captain Louis Carey could be another option available to boss Gary Johnson if he can overcome the foot injury which has ruled him out of the last three matches.

On-loan Neil Clement may make his debut in the heart of the Hull defence at the expense of banned centre-back Michael Turner, although midfielder Simon Walton could also fill in at the back. Midfielders Nick Barmby (groin) and Bryan Hughes (knee) and veteran striker Dean Windass (knee) are out.

Barnsley (16) v Sheff Wednesday (22)

Tykes defender Dennis Souza is suspended and influential midfielder Anderson De Silva (knee) is out, so Diego Leon could be promoted from the bench. Defender Rob Kozluk has shaken off a hamstring injury while strikers Daniel Nardiello and Michael Coulson have also recovered from knocks and are in the squad.

Wednesday are without Lee Bullen (hamstring) and Jermaine Johnson (suspension) but left-back Tommy Spurr is back from illness. Manager Brian Laws could be tempted to hand Chelsea teenager Ben Sahar a start up front, but Deon Burton is back in the reckoning after scoring for the reserves in midweek.

Burnley (9) v Watford (3)

Clarets manager Owen Coyle is hoping to have on-loan striker Andrew Cole back after an Achilles injury but will check on the fitness of on-loan Sunderland centre-back Stanislav Varga. Defender Michael Duff, midfielder Alan Mahon and forwards Besart Berisha and Steve Jones remain sidelined.

Watford's Jay DeMerit is pushing for a return after groin trouble. Leigh Bromby has excelled in DeMerit's absence alongside Danny Shittu but could move to right-back to accommodate his skipper's return with Adrian Mariappa dropping out. The Hornets are still without midfielder Damien Francis (knee).

Cardiff (13) v Leicester (20)

Cardiff's Stephen McPhail face a late test on an ankle problem but Riccardo Scimeca (groin) is expected to miss out again and Glenn Loovens is banned. Darcy Blake will hope to have recovered from a neck problem but Joe Ledley (hamstring), Robbie Fowler (hip) and Warren Feeney (ankle) are sidelined.

Gareth McAuley is suspended for Leicester so Bruno N'Gotty will be recalled to the starting XI. Fellow defenders Joe Mattock and Richard Stearman have resumed training following leg injuries, while midfielder Lee Hendrie goes straight into the squad following his arrival on loan from Sheffield United.

Colchester (23) v Wolves (10)

United hope defenders Chris Coyne (head) and John White (dislocated elbow) are fit. Winger Mark Yeates (shoulder) and centre-half Pat Baldwin (knee) are out but Kevin Lisbie should start after ankle trouble while fellow forward Teddy Sheringham rested some aches and pains last weekend and has trained all week.

Wolves goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey faces a late test to prove his fitness after suffering mild concussion - Graham Stack stands by. Matt Jarvis (hip) has returned to training but Michael Kightly (ankle) and Stephen Ward (knee) are still out.

Norwich (12) v Blackpool (14)

Captain Mark Fotheringham is expected to slot in alongside Matthew Pattison in the centre of midfield.

Striker Dion Dublin is also available again after suspension but could have to make do with a place on the bench - but midfielder Darel Russell is banned. Adam Drury (ankle) and Luke Chadwick (shoulder) are out.

Blackpool captain Michael Jackson remains sidelined with a torn hamstring but boss Simon Grayson should have no other fresh worries, with Paul Dickov and Steve McPhee expected to spearhead the attack again.

Preston (21) v Crystal Palace (11)

Preston midfielder Richard Chaplow faces a battle to be passed fit after tweaking the same hamstring he he hurt against Stoke. Wayne Henderson and Michael Hart are again sidelined and Callum Davidson is banned.

Palace defender Clint Hill, midfielder Tom Soares and striker James Scowcroft are banned - Lee Hills may

move to left-back to replace Hill while Sean Scannell, Clinton Morrison and Dougie Freedman hope to start up front. Midfielders Neil Danns (groin), Mark Kennedy (Achilles) and Paul Ifill (hamstring) are out.

Scunthorpe (24) v Coventry (18)

The hosts are without banned midfielder Matt Sparrow but Grant McCann could return to the starting line-up following his own three-match ban. Kevan Hurst missed out last week due to a heavy cold but could figure, while fit-again defender Izzy Iriekpen is hoping for a return to the starting line-up.

City could have midfielder Stephen Hughes, who missed the midweek defeat at Burnley after being knocked unconscious in the victory over Leicester, back at the expense of Kevin Thornton. In-form striker Leon Best has recovered from ankle trouble but captain Michael Doyle is suspended.

Sheff Utd (17) v Charlton (6)

United will be without Lee Martin, who has knee ligament damage. Another on-loan winger, David Cotterill, returns to contention after being cup-tied for the FA Cup defeat at Middlesbrough. Manager Kevin Blackwell has no other new injury or suspension worries.

On-loan Scott Sinclair could be pitched straight in by Charlton boss Alan Pardew. Kelly Youga is expected to return at left-back after a one-game ban, with Grant Basey making way, while right-back Greg Halford is facing the axe. Centre-half Madjid Bougherra (foot) is still out and Ben Thatcher (knee) and Cory Gibbs (foot) are not ready to return after long spells on the sidelines - but Sam Sodje (hand) is fit.

Southampton (19) v Ipswich (7)

Saints midfielder Youssef Safri is back from suspension but full-back Alexander Ostlund is training again following a hamstring injury - but is not match-fit. Club captain Claus Lundekvam (ankle) is out for the season and fellow defenders Chris Makin (hip) and Darren Powell (calf), winger Nathan Dyer (ankle) and back-up goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski (thumb) are all still missing.

Midfielder Alan Quinn (ankle) needs a late fitness test - Owen Garvan is on stand-by. Jon Walters continues to play with an on-going knee problem but Ipswich have no other injury or suspension problems.

West Brom (4) v Plymouth (5)

Top scorer Kevin Phillips is a slight concern because of a knee injury - Luke Moore is likely to be handed his full debut for West Brom if the former Sunderland striker fails to make it.

Plymouth manager Paul Sturrock reported no new injuries following the 3-1 home win over play-off rivals Burnley and is expected to name an unchanged team.

SUNDAY

QPR (15) v Stoke (1)

Gavin Mahon (knee) is rated 'touch and go' by QPR boss Luigi De Canio. Veteran winger Gareth Ainsworth could provide De Canio with an alternative after recovering from the back problem which has kept him out recently. Striker Rowan Vine can probably expect a recall with Dexter Blackstock the likely fall guy.

Stoke defender Leon Cort hopes to recover from a bruised ankle but midfielder Rory Delap is banned. Tony Pulis may hand Paul Gallagher a start after the on-loan Blackburn frontman scored in his last two second-string run-outs but defender Gabriel Zakuani (broken toe) and midfielder Dominic Matteo (foot) miss out.

Sporting Life / Eurosport