Ipswich Town will be looking to seal a spot in the Championship playoffs when they travel to Ewood Park to play Blackburn Rovers in their final match of the season this weekend.
The Tractor Boys sit in the playoff places heading into this match, while the hosts have little to play for as they are already assured of a ninth-place finish.
Blackburn Rovers
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Regardless of this weekend's result, Blackburn know that they cannot climb up the table or lose a place, as they sit four points above 10th-placed Charlton Athletic, but nine adrift of eighth.
Gary Bowyer's side's hopes of sneaking into the playoff spots have tailed off in recent weeks as they have drawn four of their last five outings, including a 2-2 draw with Huddersfield Town last time out.
The home side will be hoping that in-form striker Rudy Gestede, who has been linked with a move away from the club, can help them finish the season on a high note, with the Frenchman having scored five goals in their last three matches.
Finishing ninth means that the club will be one spot lower than their 2013-14 finish, leaving them in the second tier for a fourth straight season next year.
Blackburn have picked up 10 of their 16 wins at home this season, so will be confident when they welcome Mick McCarthy's side to Ewood Park on Saturday.
They have been beaten six times in their own stadium though, and have won just one of their four home fixtures, beating relegated Millwall 2-0 earlier this month.
Recent form: WDDDWD
Recent form (all competitions): LDDDWD
Ipswich Town
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Ipswich's fate is in their own hands as they sit fifth in the table going into this fixture, knowing that they need just a point to make sure they are involved in the playoffs.
McCarthy's side cannot finish high than fifth, but defeat could see them handed a tougher draw in the playoffs if they slip to sixth, or drop them out of the top six altogether depending on other results.
A run of three wins in four matches has seen Ipswich move back above the likes of Brentford and Wolverhampton Wanderers, who have been challenging for a playoff place throughout the season, in recent weeks, including a 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest last time out.
McCarthy will be hoping that Freddie Sears can continue his recent impressive run, having scored the winner last time out, leaving him with fours goals from as many matches.
Regardless of this weekend's result, Ipswich will have their best finish in the league in 10 years, since coming third in the 2004-05 season, finishing in the top half of the table just three times since then.
The visitors have struggled away from Portman Road at times this season, securing just seven of their 22 wins this campaign on the road, while eight of their 22 away fixtures have resulted in defeats.
Recent form: DLWWDW
Team News
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Bowyer has confirmed that there will be no players coming into his matchday squad for the visit of Ipswich, with Matt Kilgallon, Alex Baptiste, Grant Hanley and Chris Taylor all still sidelined.
Striker Paul Taylor also misses out for the hosts as he is on loan from the visitors, making him ineligible against his parent club.
Ipswich will also be missing a loan player, as Luke Varney is at the Tractor Boys from Blackburn, so will miss out against his parent club.
There are no new injury problems for Ipswich though, so the visitors can otherwise stick with the same squad should they choose.
Blackburn possible starting lineup:
Eastwood, Henley, Lenihan, Spurr, Olsson, Cairney, Williamson, Evans, Conway, Gestede, Rhodes
Ipswich possible starting lineup:
Bialkowski, Chambers, Smith, Berra, Mings, Bru, Skuse, Bishop, Hunt, Murphy, Sears
Head To Head
When the sides met at Portman Road back in October, it was a 1-1 draw, with Blackburn equalising deep in stoppage time after playing much of the second half a man short.
Blackburn have proved a tricky opponent for Ipswich in recent years, with this weekend's hosts losing just once in their last nine meetings with the Tractor Boys, a run that stretches back to 1996.
Historically, they have been well matched though, with Blackburn picking up 18 wins to Ipswich's 14, while 16 meetings have finished level.
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Hit play below to see what the Sports Mole Sofa had to say about this encounter:
We say: Blackburn Rovers 1-1 Ipswich Town
Ipswich have lacked consistency away from home this season, but come into this match in good form so will be optimistic of avoiding defeat, which will secure their place in the playoffs. Blackburn has not been a happy hunting ground for them in recent years though, so a draw would be a good result for the visitors.
Sian Cowper
