Two sides battling for automatic promotion from the Championship come face to face on Friday night in a match that could go a long way to deciding which team competes at the highest level next season.

Just one point separates Norwich City and Middlesbrough, who occupy second and third spot in the division respectively, with just three games left to play in a tightly-contested second tier.

Norwich City

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Norwich have found themselves in contention for promotion all season long, but having struck a rich vein of form since Alex Neil took charge, anything less than a top-two finish will now be seen as a real disappointment for the East Anglian side.

With just one defeat in their last 16 outings, Norwich are the division's form team heading into the final few weeks, and should they slip out of the automatic promotion spot that they currently occupy then they will certainly be the side to avoid in the playoffs.

Canaries supporters will not be thinking about anything other than a direct route to the Premier League, though, and no-one can blame them if recent results are anything to go by.

Just when Norwich appeared to be slipping up slightly, drawing two games on the spin at a time when maximum points were desperately needed, they clicked back into gear to rack up a winning run that stretched into its fifth game following Tuesday night's meeting against Leeds United.

Neil described that victory as being "crucial" to his side's hopes of fending off the chasing pack, and with Middlesbrough, Derby County, Ipswich Town and Bournemouth all winning in midweek, it is clear to see where the Scotsman is coming from.

Norwich boast a defensive record bettered only by Boro and Bournemouth in the Championship, but it is the goals of 19-goal striker Cameron Jerome which could truly prove the difference over the final three games.

Recent form: DWWWWW

Middlesbrough

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Boro know that, realistically speaking, with Norwich ending the season against strugglers Rotherham United and Fulham, they need to claim all three points from this fixture if they are to overhaul the Canaries.

It is not as straightforward as that, of course, because if there is one league that just loves to dish out a surprise it is the Championship. Norwich, who boast a superior goal difference to their rivals - which essentially acts as an extra point at this stage - could play host to lowly Fulham on the final day needing just a point, only to slip up at the final hurdle.

Aitor Karanka will not want it to reach that stage, however, meaning that a positive result is required under the Carrow Road lights. In fact, having been gifted the chance to play a day before their promotion rivals, victory for Boro, or Norwich for that matter, will see them top the table heading into the final throes.

Supporters of the North-East club could be forgiven for their over-exuberant celebrations following the recent hard-fought win over Wigan Athletic, which took them to the summit temporarily.

Yet, as if to highlight that point about what a tough league this is to escape, the Smoggies were unable to overcome Watford in their following outing. Successive wins since then have ensured that hope remains alive, though, with Karanka's men in a brilliant position to push on and make a long-awaited return to the Premier League.

The Spaniard has done a brilliant job during his time at the Riverside, even if his side do miss out on a top-two finish, and he himself admitted that he is more than happy with his outfit's current standing in the table heading into the crucial clash at Norwich.

Recent form: WLWLWW

Team News

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Patrick Bamford is a man in real form at this moment in time, bagging another goal and assists in Tuesday's win at Wolverhampton Wanderers to make it seven strikes in his last nine outings.

He is expected to lead the attack, despite the quick turnaround between games, while Kike may be brought back into the fold in place of Jelle Vossen. That would be harsh on the Belgian, though, following his early goal in the slender win over Wanderers.

At the back, Daniel Ayala continues to struggle with injury, meaning potentially a second game in three days for the experienced Jonathan Woodgate, although that may be pushing things as he limped off the field last time out.

Albert Adomah is also considered a major doubt following the injury he picked up in that same game, as Boro begin to feel the full force of a gruelling campaign.

As far as the visiting side are concerned, Neil will be tempted to name an unchanged side once more, having done so at Leeds earlier this week.

Nathan Redmond, Wes Hoolahan and Jerome in particular will have to be on the top of their game if they are to breach the best defensive set-up in the league.

Norwich City possible starting lineup:
Ruddy; Whittaker, Martin, Bassong, Olsson; Tettey, Dorrans, Howson; Redmond, Hoolahan, Jerome

Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:
Konstantopoulos, Kalas, Gibson, Woodgate, Friend, Amorebieta, Forshaw, Clayton, Tomlin, Vossen, Bamford

Head To Head

Grant Leadbitter was the hero of the hour in the last meeting between these sides earlier this season, scoring twice for Middlesbrough in a comfortable 4-0 rout at the Riverside.

That victory may hold Karanka's men in good stead, but Norwich boast a mightily impressive home record over their opponents, having lost just once in the last 11 encounters at Carrow Road.

Both sets of supporters will still clearly remember the 4-4 draw played out between the sides 10 years ago now, in a game which saw City score three goals in the final 10 minutes to salvage a memorable point.

We say: Norwich City 1-1 Middlesbrough

There has been very little between these two sides all season long, and that is likely to be reflected in the scoreline on Friday night. The finishing line is now very much in sight, but the loser of this game may well have to settle for a playoff berth, which sets up an intriguing battle at Carrow Road.

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