EFL preview: Stakes are high in lunchtime football feast

What a set of fixtures the Championship has thrown up at 12:30 BST with a huge amount riding on them for five of the six teams in action.

Automatic promotion-chasing Leeds United travel to relegation battlers Luton Town for a contest with permutations at both ends of the table.

The Whites will be keen to set aside any Groundhog Day fears with just one win in five (D3 L1) seeing them slip to second, two points behind leaders Sheffield United.

Leeds fans won’t need reminding that Daniel Farke’s side dropped 16 points from a possible 24 in the run-in to miss out on the top two last season, but the German manager says he is “100% convinced” his side will be in the Premier League next season.

“This team, I know how tight they are together and they have the right mentality,” Farke told BBC Radio Leeds.

“Of course at this stage of the season, you can’t guarantee you will finish in the top two because the race is so tight.

“I still think we have a chance but if not, the play-offs, so I am 100% convinced that we will play in the Premier League. There is not one doubt in my head.”

Perhaps one of the most notable talking points ahead of the game is that goalkeeper Illan Meslier, who has made a number of costly errors this season, is set to be dropped for Karl Darlow.

“We all know Illan’s had a difficult season so far, you have to be honest,” Farke said. “Right now, it was a decision I feel I had to make and to protect him a little bit.”

The Hatters are three points adrift of safety in 23rd but are undefeated in their past three (W2 D1) to boost their survival hopes.