Leicester City will be automatically promoted to the Premier League if Leeds United are beaten by Queens Park Rangers tonight.
Back-to-back wins over West Brom and Southampton means the Foxes now have one foot back in the top-flight already, and could have it rubber stamped one way or another this weekend.
Leicester only require one win from their final two matches in order to seal promotion, but defeat for Leeds in the capital would ensure that it is secured before they next play.
With Leicester all but there, it is now a two-horse race between Leeds and Ipswich Town for second spot and so a win tonight is absolutely imperative for the Whites.
Leeds can pile the pressure on by moving four points clear of Ipswich ahead of their two games in hand at Hull and Coventry City.
If that was to happen, only wins in both would ensure the top two is in their hands going into the final day.
Maresca shares whether he will watch Leeds vs QPR tonight
Managers including Daniel Farke always like to say at this stage of the season they will be paying no attention to results that happen elswhere.
However, from Leeds’ perspective, they will actually have to rely on favours from elsewhere in order to return to the Premier League, providing they also do their own job.
And tonight could represent a monumental day for Maresca’s Leicester side, who will undoubtedly be keen to get promotion wrapped up as early as possible.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of Leicester’s trip to Preston North End on Monday, Maresca says he will not be watching Leeds tonight, but did admit he would be keeping up to date with the score.
He said: “Friday night, I usually watch my son’s session in the Under-11s. Then we have pizza. We’ll do the same tonight, with my kids altogether. For sure I will be checking the other result. We don’t need to wait for their result because we know we just need one win.”
Leeds vs Ipswich remaining fixtures compared
As mentioned, now is very much the time in the season where you can’t help but watch on and hope rivals are dropping points.
Leeds’ trip to QPR tonight is what kicks the penultimate Championship weekend of the season off with Junior Firpo knowing a win would pile the pressure on Ipswich ahead of their matches.
The Tractor Boys then play twice before the final day at both Hull and Coventry, which on paper, does look like two extremely tough away games.
However, if Ipswich were to have any sort of advantage heading into the final day, they would be massive favourites. Kieran McKenna’s side host a Huddersfield Town side who could already be relegated, while Leeds face Southampton at Elland Road.
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