Leeds United conclude the final game of their regular season at home to Southampton on Saturday.
When this fixture was drawn back in June last year, this had looked like a potential automatic promotion decider. For much of the campaign, it was going to be.
However, after a drop-off in form from both sides, it is now practically a dead rubber. Southampton are out of the race, while Leeds have the slimmest of hope and are relying on all but relegated Huddersfield Town to win away at Ipswich Town, to have any sort of chance.
Both sides are set to enter the play-offs in poor form, but given how close Leeds came to the top two, Martin O’Neill believes it is going to be difficult to pick themselves up again.
With that in mind, a win this weekend would be important to boost Leeds’ confidence levels, and changes to the starting XI could help in doing that.
Parker cannot believe what some Leeds fans are saying about Saturday’s game
Considering how poor Leeds were at QPR, Daniel Farke could definitely do with a little rotation this weekend. Glen Kamara should come into midfield, and Mateo Joseph deserves a shot in attack.
However, although Leeds’ chances of top two are highly unlikely, Farke cannot afford to change too much as they still need to be in a position to capitalise on any potential Ipswich slip-up.
And speaking on the latest episode of the LS11 Podcast, former Leeds defender Ben Parker says he has heard some supporters suggesting Farke should make wholesale changes.
Parker, though, cannot believe that is even in some people’s thinking, as if Ipswich were to lose with Leeds failing to capitalise due to a heavily rotated side, it would turn the Whites into a laughing stock.
He said: “Just win the game. I have heard a few people saying let’s rest the strongest team and give the players a rest going into the play-offs. Why? We need to win for a bit of momentum, just to get a bit of feel good factor around the place.
“If we did play say the kids, imagine if Huddersfield did win and we didn’t win ours because we played a weakened team. Imagine that? That would be the ultimate Leeds thing to do. Just the win game, if we get a favour so be it, if not at least we’re getting that winning feeling again.”
Simon Jordan predicts if Leeds can pull off final day miracle
Leeds will be hoping and praying that their West Yorkshire neighbours Huddersfield can somehow do them a favour on Saturday.
Ultimately, however, they are all but relegated themselves and so it is incredibly difficult to see them being up for it enough to even draw, never mind win.
And talkSPORT pundit Simon Jordan believes there is practically no chance that Leeds will be able to pull off a final day miracle.
He said: “I sincerely doubt it [another twist could occur]. That’s assuming Leeds win their game because if Leeds don’t win their game, Ipswich don’t need any points. Really and truly, I can’t imagine it.
“Huddersfield are in the bottom three for a reason, Ipswich are at home, the hard yards were done at Coventry. I expect them to do more than enough to win the game. It’s a remarkable achievement.”