The Championship play-off race is still very much wide open, with 10 sides chasing a place in the end-of-season spectacle - including Tony Mowbray's Sunderland.
The Black Cats' boss has been keen to play down expectations, given this is the club's first season back in the second tier following four years in League One. However, ahead of schedule or not, the fact is Sunderland are very much in with a chance of making the top six.
Middlebrough (third) and Luton Town (fourth) seem almost assured of their place, with Michael Carrick's Boro challenging Sheffield United for an automatic promotion slot. However, it feels like the remaining places are up for grabs, with the coming weeks likely to indicate which sides will be making final push.
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To that end, we've taken a look at the next fives fixtures for the sides in fifth to 12th place to assess who will be in with the best chance of making the play-offs. Nothing is every guaranteed in the Championship, of course, with sides scrapping for survival at the bottom of the table more than capable of springing a surprise.
5 Blackburn Rovers, 61pts
Next five fixtures: Birmingham (a), Norwich (h), Huddersfield (a), Hull City (h), Coventry (h)
Now free from any FA Cup interests, Jon-Dahl Tomasson's side will expect to keep their play-off place going into the final straight, and their upcoming fixtures don't suggest many shocks. Promotion rivals Norwich and Coventry both have to come to Ewood Park soon, but it would be a surprise to see Rovers dropping too many points.
6 Millwall, 60pts
Next five fixtures: West Brom (a), Luton (h), Hull City (a), Preston (h), Birmingham (h)
The defeat to relegation scrappers Huddersfield Town was a big blow to the Lions - especially with West Brom and Luton to come. Hull away followed by Preston at home won't be easy, although they will expect to beat Birmingham at the New Den. They may not be still in sixth once the next five have been played.
7 Norwich City, 57pts
Next five fixtures: Sheffield Unted (h), Blackburn (a), Rotherham (h), Middlesbrough (a), QPR (a)
Two tough games for the Canaries on the resumption of hostilities, with Sheffield United to visit Carrow Road followed by a trip to Blackburn. A visit to high-flying Middlesbrough comes inbetween winnable games against Rotherham and QPR, but the coming weeks will be a big test for David Wagner's side.
8 Coventry City, 57pts
Next five fixtures: Stoke City (h), Swansea City (a), Watford (h), QPR (a), Blackburn (a)
Coventry have emerged from their nightmare start to become one of the in-form sides in the division and, in Viktor Gyokeres, have the second highest goalscorer in the Championship. They shouldn't be daunted by this run, with only Blackburn away a real threat to their progress.
9 West Bromwich, 55pts
Next five fixtures: Millwall (h), Rotherham (a), QPR (h), Stoke City (a), Blackpool (h)
Like Coventry, the Baggies have risen from the ashes of a nightmare start to put themselves firmly in the play-off hunt. And also like Coventry, they will be confident ahead of a run of games which sees only Millwall of the top-half contenders on the horizon.
10 Watford, 55pts
Next five fixtures: Luton Town (a), Huddersfield (h), Coventry City (a), Bristol City, (h), Cardiff City (h)
Chris Wilder hasn't had quite the new manager bounce he would have liked, but the Hornets are still in the hunt. A trip to Kenilworth Road will be tricky, and you can't write off Neil Warnock's Huddersfield following their win at Millwall. Coventry away will also be a challenge but they will hope for home wins over Bristol City and Cardiff
11 Sunderland, 53pts
Next five fixtures: Burnley (a), Hull City (h), Cardiff City (a), Birmingham (h), Huddersfield (h)
It doesn't come much tougher than Burnley away as the Black Cats return to action, but Tony Mowbray and Co will have their eyes on the bigger pictures, with some very winnable fixtures ahead. Hull, Birmingham and Huddersfield all come to the Stadium of Light in games they should be winning if they are to make a play-off push.
12 Preston, 53pts
Next five fixtures: Blackpool (h), QPR (a), Reading (h), Millwall (a), Swansea City (a)
Preston will certainly have an eye on crashing the promotion party, and have a run of fixtures which could well help them press their case. Struggling Blackpool and Reading come to Deepdale, while the visit to Millwall could be a real six-pointer.
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