Southampton are preparing for a trip to Leeds United for the final game of the regular Championship season.
The fixture is an intriguing one, with Southampton effectively having nothing to play for but Leeds maintaining a slim chance of promotion on the final day.
If Leeds beat Southampton and Ipswich Town suffer the unlikeliest of defeats at home to already relegated Huddersfield Town then Daniel Farke’s side will sneak into the second automatic promotion spot.
Southampton manager Russell Martin has a big decision to make over whether he plays his best side and risks injuries ahead of the play-offs or sends out a second string.
This dilemma is made more difficult by the fact that the Saints have lost their last three games in a row, meaning they are badly out of form ahead of the season-defining games.
David Prutton predicts Leeds v Southampton
The choice Martin makes could have massive implications on the result.
Another factor to consider is that there is a very real possibility the two sides could meet again at Wembley on 26th May in the play-off final.
All of these variables make it a very difficult game to predict, however Sky Sports’ EFL presenter David Prutton has attempted to do just that.
Prutton, who played for both sides during his career, was speaking on Sky Sports’ Championship Predictions podcast.
The 42-year-old anticipated a tight affair at Elland Road, as he said: “I think Leeds beat Southampton 1-0.”
However, Prutton does not believe this will be enough for Leeds, as he went on to say: “Portman Road, I’m going to go Ipswich to beat Huddersfield 2-0.”
If Prutton is correct, this will see Leeds finish third and Ipswich return to the Premier League after a 22-year absence.
What Prutton’s predictions would mean for play-offs
Prutton predicted all 12 of the Championship games ahead of the final day, with the 12:30pm kick-offs determining the fate of a number of sides.
The presenter made some interesting forecasts regarding the play-offs, as he believes Birmingham City will beat Norwich City 1-0, Hull City will beat Plymouth Argyle 2-1 and Preston will beat West Brom 1-0.
This outcome would mean that Hull leapfrog West Brom into sixth on the final day, with Norwich finishing fifth.
Therefore, regardless of what happens at Elland Road, Southampton would face Norwich in the two-legged play-off semi-final.
If victorious, Southampton would then have to prepare for a Wembley final against the winner of Leeds versus Hull.