Championship leaders Newcastle United will be looking to extend their lead at the top when they host struggling Bristol City on Saturday.

Rafa Benitez’s men have won three of their last four league games to usurp Chris Hughton’s Brighton at the summit, and victory over Lee Johnson’s relegation-threatened Robins will put them four points clear of the Seagulls for a few hours at least.

That’s because Hughton’s Brighton host fourth place Reading at the AMEX Stadium on Saturday evening, knowing that a victory would take them 11 points clear of Jaap Stam’s side, and very much in the hunt for a return to the top-flight after 34 years.

However, David Wagner’s Huddersfield Town will be looking to put the pressure on Brighton with three points at Barnsley earlier in the day, while the early kick-off in the Championship sees fifth place Leeds host sixth place Sheffield Wednesday at Elland Road.

At the bottom, Rotherham United visit Brentford hoping to reduce their 15-point gap to safety, while there’s a massive game at the Pirelli Stadium this evening as 20th place Burton Albion host 23rd place Blackburn Rovers, the latter under the stewardship of new manager Tony Mowbray.

Clearly, it’s going to be an enthralling weekend in the second tier, but here are THREE games in particular that you need to keep an eye on over the next few days…

Leeds United vs Sheffield Wednesday

There’s a Yorkshire derby taking place at Elland Road on Saturday as fifth place Leeds host sixth place Sheffield Wednesday.

Garry Monk’s men have won just one of their last four league games to fall out of automatic promotion contention, although they are well-lodged in the play-off places, given that they are six points clear of Fulham in seventh.

Despite their indifferent recent form, Leeds have won seven of their last eight league games at Elland Road, their only defeat coming against Cardiff a few weeks ago, and won their last match there with a 2-1 success over Bristol City last week.

However, it’s going to be a tough ask to get the better of Sheffield Wednesday, despite the Owls going down 2-1 at home to Brentford in midweek.

Carlos Carvalhal’s won their preceding four Championship matches, and had only lost to Brighton and Reading in the league since the start of November.

That equates to just three losses in their last 17 league games, so it’s all set up to be an intriguing encounter at Elland Road on Saturday.

Brighton vs Reading

Saturday evening sees second place Brighton host play-off contenders Reading at the AMEX Stadium, with the hosts looking to get back into the top tier for the first time since 1983.

Chris Hughton’s men are only four points ahead of third place Huddersfield after the Terriers beat Jaap Stam’s Royals 1-0 on Tuesday night, a result which puts the pressure on the Seagulls ahead of Saturday’s clash.

However, Brighton haven’t lost at home in the league since September 10, when Brentford won there 2-0, and since then have won ten and drawn three of their 13 games, with only Preston, Aston Villa, and Ipswich taking points from their travels down south.

Nonetheless, Reading are fourth in the table having won 18 of their 33 Championship games this term, although their 1-0 defeat at Huddersfield on Tuesday has all but ended their hopes of automatic promotion this season.

The Royals are eight points behind the Seagulls having played a game more, although they have an eight-point cushion over seventh place Fulham, so the play-offs look a good bet for Stam’s men.

Reading have lost just one of their last seven league games although have won just twice on the road in 2017, so Brighton will go in as favourites on Saturday evening in what should be a fascinating encounter between two sides near the top of the division.

Norwich City vs Ipswich Town

There’s an East Anglian derby at Carrow Road on Sunday as play-off chasers Norwich host Mick McCarthy’s Ipswich.

Alex Neil’s Canaries are just two places but seven points outside of the top six, with a run of nine defeats in 13 games between October and December hindering their promotion hopes, but they have embarked on a recent upturn in form.

Norwich have won five of their last nine league matches, with just two defeats to Rotherham and Burton the only blots on a fine start to 2017 for the Canaries.

However, one of those defeats (the Burton one) did come in their last game, so McCarthy’s Ipswich will look to take full advantage when the visit Carrow Road on Sunday.

The Tractor Boys are 13th in the table, they’re not going up or down, and they have picked up some impressive results in the last few weeks, drawing against Brighton, Leeds, and Reading, as well as winning at free-falling Aston Villa.

It means that Ipswich have lost just one of their last six, and their recent defensive solidarity could come in handy against a confident Norwich side on Sunday.