Russell Slade has claimed that Cardiff City are entering what could be a defining spell in their season, as they prepare to welcome Sheffield Wednesday at the weekend.

The Bluebirds have done enough to claim a top-six place ahead of games against fellow promotion chasers Wednesday, Brentford and Birmingham City over the next week.

Only three points separate Cardiff in sixth and Queens Park Rangers down in 12th place, which Slade believes goes a long way to underlining just how important the next few matches could be for his side.

"We wanted to be in the top six. That's our mandate and we are just about on course," he is quoted as saying by Wales Online. "We'd like to put some daylight there and that makes Sheffield Wednesday a defining game. We are playing some teams around us now. It's a critical period and going to be very interesting.

"Our aim from the start was the playoffs and we are fully focussed on that. We are all together in that quest, we are in a decent position, but we need to still improve so that if others lose form we can pounce. Only results and performances will tell us if we are going to get there.

"It is a critical time and we need to be picking up points. Any season going into the Christmas campaign, if you've got an opportunity, you have to grab it with both hands. It can set you up for the new year. You can push on. You can be in a positive place. The plan is to get positive results now so we are looking in good shape come January."

Cardiff, who beat Bolton Wanderers 3-2 in their last outing, have failed to record back-to-back league victories since mid-September.