We have reached that stage in the season where seemingly every game in the Football League has something riding on it one way or another.

Teams up and down the land are jostling for position, aiming to secure their place in their respective division or battling to earn promotion.

With that in mind, Sports Mole takes a closer look at all the possible permutations this weekend on what is likely to be another hugely entertaining round of action.

Championship

Race for promotion

Victory for Middlesbrough over Norwich City at Carrow Road on Friday night saw Aitor Karanka's men climb to the top of the table, although that could all change this afternoon.

Bournemouth play host to Sheffield Wednesday at the Goldsands Stadium knowing that a point will take them back to the summit by virtue of their superior goal difference.

Watford can also move into the automatic promotion zone should they see off the challenge of Birmingham City, while top spot is there for the taking if the Cherries slip up.

Boro, Norwich, Bournemouth and Watford are all guaranteed a playoff spot at the very least come the end of the season, although each will no doubt see that as a disappointing outcome should they fail to earn promotion via the automatic route.

It means that Derby County, Ipswich Town, Brentford and Wolverhampton Wanderers are all fighting it out over the final three games of the campaign for the two remaining top-six spots.

The Rams travel to Huddersfield Town this afternoon, Mark Warburton's Brentford take on Bolton Wanderers, and Ipswich will lock horns with Wolves in a massive clash in the day's early kickoff at Molineux.

Fight for survival

Blackpool have already dropped out of the division following a dismal season blighted by off-the-field matters, while Wigan Athletic will join them should they fail to beat Brighton & Hove Albion today.

The Latics, now under the guidance of Gary Caldwell, find themselves eight points from safety with time very much against them. Brighton themselves are not officially safe yet, either, so they will be keen to put some further distance between themselves and the relegation zone this weekend.

Fulham and Rotherham United are the two teams directly in danger of relegation following their 1-1 draw in midweek, although anything other than a victory for current bottom three incumbents Millwall at Cardiff City will essentially see the battle to avoid the drop become a dead rubber in the closing weeks of the term.

That is, of course, assuming that the Millers do not face a points deduction for fielding an ineligible player earlier this month, which is likely to land the Yorkshire club in hot water when the Football League's disciplinary panel meet to decide their punishment.

League One

Race for promotion

An impressive 6-0 victory for league leaders Bristol City against Bradford City cemented their place in the second tier next season, while a 2-2 draw for Preston North End at Port Vale last night ensures that the Robins can claim the League One title should they gain a point in their meeting with Coventry City.

Despite their slip-up at Vale Park, Preston are still assured of a playoff spot, although they will have their eyes firmly set on joining Steve Cotterill's charges in the top flight via the automatic route.

MK Dons and Swindon Town will have different ideas, though, with both sides joining North End in a three-way battle for a top-two spot. Karl Robinson's side face Leyton Orient this afternoon, while Swindon tackle bottom-of-the-table Yeovil Town.

Fight for survival

Yeovil have little other than pride to play for, having already been relegated from League one following their draw against Notts County last weekend.

As many as eight teams can still face the drop at this late stage of the campaign, with Colchester United, Crawley Town and Ricardo Moniz's County side all currently occupying the remaining relegation spots.

Port Vale, Coventry City, Scunthorpe United, Crewe Alexandra and Orient are all still yet to have confirmed their place in the third tier ahead of next season.

League Two

Race for promotion

This may prove to be a decisive weekend at the top of League Two, as Burton Albion, Shrewsbury Town, Wycombe Wanderers, Bury and Southend United all vie for the three available automatic promotion berths.

There is plenty still to play for elsewhere in the race for a top-seven spot, although with the games ticking down it is Plymouth Argyle and Stevenage who look down on a chasing pack that includes Newport County, Luton Town and Exeter City among others.

Fight for survival

Things appear to be somewhat clearer at the opposite end of the table, with Hartlepool United, Cheltenham Town and Tranmere Rovers tussling to beat the drop.

Just three points separate the trio, who are aiming to avoid the two available relegation places, although the former of those sides face a daunting task when they take on promotion-chasing Luton.

Cheltenham take on mid-table Northampton Town, meanwhile, and Rovers have the nicest fixture of the lot - on paper, at least - with a home tie against Oxford United.