With just four matches remaining, the race for promotion to the Premier League is hotting up and both Middlesbrough and Wolverhampton Wanderers know that a positive result at the Riverside Stadium can go a long way to securing their target at the end of the season.
Middlesbrough sit just a point adrift of a top-two position, while only goal difference separates Wolves from a place in the playoffs.
Middlesbrough
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Middlesbrough head into the final fixtures of the season as the team considered most unlikely of the top four to capture automatic promotion on May 2, but Aitor Karanka's men remain well-placed to capitalise should their rivals slip up in the next three weeks.
The North East club have enjoyed a fantastic campaign where they spent the majority of the year scrapping for a top-two spot, but just six victories from 12 have seen the club fall behind the likes of Bournemouth, Norwich City and Watford.
They remain only a point behind second, but three defeats in seven outings have hindered their challenge and unless they can find some consistency, they could be left to settle for a place in the playoffs.
One consolation for Karanka is that their home form remains in good order. They've won their last five matches at the Riverside Stadium, the last of which came against Rotherham United on Saturday, and they will be confident of beating any opposition at their home ground.
The goals of Chelsea loanee Patrick Bamford remain crucial to the team, with the England Under-21 international scoring five times in his last six appearances to take his total for the season to 18 in all competitions.
However, the key to Middlesbrough's success has been their defence. They have conceded just 11 goals in 21 matches at the Riverside, while they have shipped 11 goals fewer than anyone else in the division.
Recent form: WWLWLW
Wolverhampton Wanderers
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While Middlesbrough have placed particular onus on their defence, it's the front three of Wolves who have given the club an opportunity to earn a playoff place at the end of the season.
Kenny Jackett's men have scored in their last 11 matches, with the majority of their goals coming from trio Benik Afobe, Nouha Dicko and Bakary Sako.
Afobe, a January acquisition from Arsenal, has scored 11 goals in 17 appearances, while Dicko and Sako have weighed in with four goals and various assists over the past six weeks.
A run of four successive victories had been enough to take Wolves into the top six, but a surprise 2-1 defeat at Birmingham City has left the club outside the playoffs on goal difference.
Jackett will have concerns over a defence which has showed several frailties against both Birmingham and Leeds United, with all five of the goals conceded in those two fixtures coming as a result of mistakes in and around the penalty area.
That side of their game will need to improve if they are to record all three points in the North East, which would be their first win on the road against a promotion rival all season.
Recent form: DWWWWL
Team News
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Middlesbrough defender Daniel Ayala is expected to be fit for Tuesday's game despite being withdrawn against Rotherham at the weekend.
Karanka revealed that the Spaniard was only substituted as a precaution, meaning that Jonathan Woodgate is likely to remain on the bench.
Unless Karanka decides to freshen up his side, the same starting lineup could be selected for the second successive game.
Jackett has no new injury concerns, but winger Rajiv van la Parra is in contention to return to the team after playing second fiddle to James Henry in recent weeks.
Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:
Konstantopoulos, Kalas, Gibson, Ayala, Friend, Clayton, Forshaw, Adomah, Tomlin, Bamford, Garcia Martinez
Wolverhampton Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Ikeme, Iorfa, Batth, Stearman, Golbourne, Van La Parra, McDonald, Price, Sako, Afobe, Dicko
Head To Head
Ahead of the 65th meeting between the two clubs, it's Middlesbrough who hold the advantage in the head-to-head record, winning on 32 occasions compared to just 18 victories for Wolves.
Middlesbrough have also been dominant at home, whether that be at the Riverside Stadium or Ayresome Park. The North-East outfit are unbeaten in their last 15 home games against Wolves, with the Black Country side's last win coming all the way back in 1951.
However, Wolves did win the reverse fixture earlier this campaign, with a 2-0 win being achieved thanks to goals from Sako and Dicko.
We say: Middlesbrough 2-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Given their quality in the final third, Wolves have a chance of inflicting just a fourth home defeat on Middlesbrough, but despite their poor results on the road, Karanka's men have looked solid at the Riverside Stadium and we are backing them to edge to the three points on Tuesday night.
Darren Plant
