Third-placed Leeds will line up against fourth-placed Southampton still having an outside chance of ending the Championship season with automatic promotion. For that long shot to happen, Daniel Farke’s Whites would have to beat the fourth-placed Saints and also hope that relegation-battling Huddersfield Town cause a surprise with a final day victory at second-placed Ipswich Town.
Anything else and it’s play-offs, in which the Whites and Saints would be on course to meet each other in the Wembley final should both teams progress through the semi-finals should Leeds be consigned to the end of season shoot-out.
Russell Martin’s side have lost their last three games and are already destined to finish fourth. They also have key men missing. But so too do Leeds whose manager Farke provided fresh team news updates at Thursday’s pre-match press conference.
Ahead of the Saturday lunchtime showdown at Elland Road, here we run through the injuries from both camps with six out and two doubtful but a star expected to return.
7. Juan Larios (out)
Spanish youth international left back Larios has not featured for the Saints since November 2022 due to a series of injuries and fitness issues. Photo: Steve Bardens
8. Patrick Bamford (doubt)
Whites no 9 Bamford was forced to miss Friday night's clash at Loftus Road due to a heavily bruised knee on the back of victory at Boro. The striker was then expected back in training early this week but Farke revealed at Thursday's pre-match press conference that Bamford was still having issues with his knee and had not trained. His participation this weekend is now in the balance. Photo: Matt McNulty
9. Ross Stewart (expected back)
Scotland international striker Stewart has played just 17 minutes of football for Southampton since joining the club for £10m from Sunderland last September. The striker joined the Saints with a long-term Achilles concern and then suffered a hamstring injury upon his return back in November. Stewart has been out since but Saints boss Russell Martin revealed at the back end of last week that the plan was for Stewart to return to the bench at Elland Road. Photo: Mark Runnacles