The pick of this midweek's games in the Championship arguably takes place at the iPro Stadium as Derby County and Middlesbrough, two of the league's top four, go head to head.

With nine games of the season to go, just three points separate Bournemouth in first and Norwich City in fifth, and both Derby and Middlesbrough will be after a vital win to boost their chance of automatic promotion.

Hosts Derby were many people's favourites for a top-two place three weeks ago, but they have gone four games without a win since, picking up just two points out of a possible 12.

Despite the dip in form, Derby are just two points behind the three sides setting the pace, one of whom is tonight's opponents Boro.

Three of the four recent winless matches have come away from home and McClaren will be glad to return to the iPro where his side have won five of their last seven games in all competitions.

Injuries have hit the Rams squad at the worst possible time and Steve McClaren will be without midfielders Omar Mascarell as well as John Eustace and forward duo Chris Martin and Darren Bent.

Johnny Russell should continue to lead the line in the latter duo's absence, while teenager Jamie Hanson could again start after making his senior debut in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Norwich City and going on to swing over the corner that led to the visitors' equaliser.

Derby are waiting until the last minute to see if George Thorne will be fit, but even if he is declared ready he will probably have to settle for a place on the bench.

Although Boro aren't in as much of a rut as Derby, they are chasing back-to-back victories for the first time in over a month following a run of six games alternating between wins and losses.

Aitor Karanka's side kept pace with Bournemouth and Watford with a 4-1 triumph over fellow promotion hopefuls Ipswich Town on Saturday lunchtime.

Daniel Ayala made his return after a seven-game absence and scored the opener early on, but was then forced off with a hamstring injury midway through the first half which will see him miss tonight's game.

Emilio Nsue could come in for the Spaniard in a move which would see Chelsea loanee Tomas Kalas slide over to centre-back.

Another loanee from Stamford Bridge, Patrick Bamford, scored a pair of well-taken second-half goals to seal the win over the Tractor Boys and he should start against the side at which he was on loan last season.

Boro have lost three of their last four away games in all competitions, drawing the other. Their last victory on the road was against lowly Blackpool over a month ago.

The last four meetings between these two sides have ended as home wins, with Boro claiming an impressive 2-0 success in the reverse back in mid-December.

Derby:

Recent form: WWDDLL

Possible starting lineup: Grant; Christie, Shotton, Keogh, Forsyth; Bryson, Hughes, Hendrick; Ince, Ward; Russell

Boro:

Recent form: LWLWLW

Possible starting lineup: Konstantopoulos; Nsue, Kalas, Gibson, Friend; Leadbitter, Clayton; Adomah, Tomlin, Bamford; Kike

Sports Mole says: 2-1