It is not just the promotion and play-off races in the Championship hotting up, the scramble at the bottom is already a humdinger with five teams separated by just four points with two places to be filled.
Third-bottom Oxford have the toughest ask as they head to Southampton (15:00 GMT), unbeaten in 13 games in all competitions after climbing into the top six for the first time since the opening day of the season, courtesy of Wednesday’s 1-0 home win over Norwich.
The U’s did, however, run-out 2-1 winners in the reverse fixture on Boxing Day and were within a whisker of making it four straight wins, only for a stoppage-time penalty to ensure Charlton a point at the Kassam on Saturday.
Leicester lie a point below Oxford before their trip to Watford (15:00 GMT), who remain firmly in the play-off picture.
The green shoots of recovery Foxes fans witnessed in the draw at Ipswich and home win over Bristol City were, however, washed out by QPR’s comeback from a goal down to win 3-1 at the King Power Stadium last time out.
While it was a fifth defeat in six at home, Leicester are also nine without a win on the road dating back to 6 December, though the past two were draws at high-flying Middlesbrough and Ipswich.
After a thumping win over Hull at The Hawthorns lifted them out of the bottom three, West Brom will seek to end their own 15-game winless run away from home, dating back to 1 October, when they visit Bristol City (15:00 GMT), who have taken just a point from their past four at Ashton Gate.
Portsmouth lie above Albion on goal difference going into their trip to QPR (15:00 GMT), seeking a first win in six, with just a point from their past five games.