Our weekly look at who the other teams around us are playing and how it could affect us.
First up of course are Reading and we dont need to dwell too much on this one, a win for them could offer them a chink of light if other results go there way, but anything else and they could find themselves 10 points adrift of safety come the end of the weekend, it really is getting to last chance saloon for them.
The same for QPR who start the day on 23 points and are at home to Wigan on Sunday afternoon who themselves could be in the bottom three by then, again for Rangers its a case of winning gives them that chink of light but even a draw would leave them a lot to do in the final six games, from our viewpoint a draw would perhaps be good, failing that a QPR win as it keeps Wigan right down there.
Aston Villa play on Saturday and visit Stoke City, the Potters have dropped down to within spitting distance of the bottom three so hopefully will be looking to make sure that Villa dont get within a point of them, again from a relegation point of view a Stoke win or even a draw would suit us, however a Villa win would also leave Stoke looking over their shoulder and its at this point that we should remind ourselves that Stoke have exactly the same goal difference and points as us, they are far from safe and so are we.
Sunderland travel to Chelsea on Sunday and we want only one result here a resounding win for the Londoners, although our fate is very much in our own hands, the fact is that we need a few favours elsewhere to make things that little bit easier.
Newcastle are at home to Fulham and again the Geordies are looking for a win that will ease their worries, again its a question of where our priorities lie, if we win against Reading then perhaps we might want Newcastle to win as it would draw us closer to Fulham, but I still remain cautious at present therefore lets hope for a draw or Fulham win and Newcastle still down below us.
West Ham directly above us are at Liverpool and defeat at Anfield for the Hammers will set it up nicely for the following week when it will mean that a win for us could see us surge ahead of them whatever the result at the Madejski.
I almost forgot Norwich who like Stoke have been comfortable for most of the season and now find themselves below us and looking over their shoulder, they entertain Swansea and again its a cae of whether we want to try and catch the Swans who sit on 40, or want to ensure we keep plenty of clubs between us and the drop zone, I go for the latter catching the Welsh club will be a tough ask, I prefer the less risky end to the season rather than going for broke and finding out a nasty shock awaits.