The race for the sixth and final play-off place sees Cardiff take on Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon.
The Bluebirds missed the chance to seal their place last weekend after being held to a 1-1 draw by Leeds, while seventh-placed Middlesbrough valiantly fought back from a first-minute goal down to see off promotion-chasing Southampton at the Riverside.
The mission for Malky Mackay’s men is simple – a draw or win at Selhurst Park will be enough to seal a third successive play-off campaign as Tony Mowbray’s Boro are two points behind with a vastly inferior goal difference.
The current form is positive for the Bluebirds as they go to Selhurst Park unbeaten in nine matches and have only lost once against a team in the bottom nine all season.
Mackay is boosted by the news midfielder Don Cowie has recovered from a calf strain, while Rudy Gestede could also return, but winger Craig Conway is still out with ankle ligament damage.
Palace go into the game looking for a first win in nine to round off a season which will see them finish in their highest position in three seasons.
The Eagles did lose to Cardiff in the Carling Cup semi-finals earlier this year and will be looking for revenge, while boss Dougie Freedman will also remind his players that they did win the first leg 1-0 on home soil.
However, goalkeeper Julian Speroni has joined an already lengthy injury list after he dislocated a finger in the game against Reading last Saturday, while centre-back Paul McShane is absent with a hamstring injury.
Palace have not won on the final day in the past three years and have only defeated one of the top seven clubs this term.
Add to that the fact that the two sides, along with Middlesbrough, have drawn the most matches in the Championship this term and it all points to a stalemate which would be good enough to extend the Welsh outfit’s season.
Boro travel to face Watford at the same time and we feel that they should have enough to get the three points required, but will suffer the heartbreak of missing out on the play-offs courtesy of goal difference.
