Third tier giants Sunderland visit the Weston Homes Stadium on Easter Monday (April 5, 3pm kick off) for what promises to be a decisive battle in the race for automatic promotion.
The Wearsiders have been transformed by the arrival of former Bristol City manager Lee Johnson and they’ve already secured one prize by lifting the Papa John’s Trophy at Wembley earlier this month. They celebrated that triumph - a 1-0 win over League Two side Tranmere Rovers - like a side who hadn’t won much for 48 years and they’re now hungry to complete a famous double by securing promotion back to the Championship.
The big game will be televised live on Sky Sports.
Posh have 10 League One matches remaining and crucially six are at home, including four of the last six. Posh still have other promotion rivals, Doncaster (twice), Lincoln, Gillingham and Charlton to play, but given the current form of the first two, they might be less significant matches when they arrive on the calendar.
Posh boss Darren Ferguson must also prepare his side for matches against relegation-battlers Swindon and Northampton next month.
The remaining fixtures of of all the promotion contenders are listed here. Portsmouth and Ipswich Town, who are both under new managers look to have the easiest run-ins, along with Oxford United.
Posh and Sunderland arguably have the hardest, putting even more emphasis on the Easter Monday showdown.
Here’s how we think the final table will look...
. Sunderland v Peterborough United 260920
Posh v Sunderland on Easter Monday will be key fixture.
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ACCRINGTON STANLEY: Current postion 12th. Current points: 53. Games remaining: 11. v Posh (away) L, v Burton (home) W, v Oxford (away) L, v Wimbledon (home) W, v Blackpool (away) L, Rochdale (away) D, v Doncaster (home) L, v Sunderland (away) L, v Portsmouth (home) D, v Charlton (home) D, Portsmouth (away) L. Predicted points 62. Predicted position 12th. Can't see them lasting the pace.
9.
BLACKPOOL: Current position: 6th. Current points: 56. Games remaining: 12. v Plymouth (home) W v Swindon (away) W v Gillingham (home) D v Lincoln (away) D v Accrington (home) W v Sunderland (home) W v Rochdale (away) W v Shrewsbury (home) D v Sunderland (away) L v Northampton (away) D v Doncaster (home) W v Bristol R (home) W. Predicted points: 81. Predicted position: 4th. They are in terrific form and with several senior men to come back, they will be hard to keep out of the play-off places.
10.
PETERBOROUGH UNITED: Current position: 2nd Current points: 66 Games remaining: 10 v Accrington (home) W v Fleetwood (away) L v Sunderland (home) L v Swindon (away) D v Northampton (home) W v Gillingham (home) W v Charlton (away) L v Doncaster (home) W v Lincoln (home) W v Doncaster (away) L. Predicted points: 82. Predicted position: 3rd. Six of the last 10 matches are at home which helps, but Posh have hit bad form at just the wrong time and they remain poor on their travels.
11.
HULL CITY: Current position: 1st. Current points: 69. Games remaining: 9. v Gillingham (home) W v Crewe (away) D v Northampton (home) W v Plymouth (away) W v Fleetwood (home) W v Sunderland (home) D v Lincoln (away) D, v Wigan (home) D v Charlton (away) L. Predicted points: 85. Predicted position: 2nd The Tigers will be hoping to have racked up enough promotion points before a tricky final four matches. Only one remaining midweek match (v Sunderland) is a huge advantage.
12.
SUNDERLAND: Current position: 3rd. Current points: 64. Games remaining: 11. v Bristol R (away) W v Oxford (home) W v Posh (away) W v Charlton (home) D v Wigan (away) W v Blackpool (away) L v Hull (away) D v Accrington (home) W v Blackpool (home) W v Plymouth (away) W v Northampton (home) W. Predicted points: 90. Predicted position: 1st. The toughest run in of all the promotion contenders, but momentum is massive at this time of the season and they have it.