Saturday
Barnsley v Coventry
Barnsley manager Simon Davey could be without eight first-team players. Jamal Campbell-Ryce (fractured elbow), Mounir El Haimour (calf) and Marciano Van Homoet (suspended) all miss out. Bobby Hassell is doubtful due to an ankle problem. Goalkeeper Heinz Muller, midfielder Anderson de Silva and striker Michael Coulson have long-term knee ligament injuries and Argentinian Hugo Colace is waiting for international clearance.
Coventry's Jay Tabb and Julian Gray have recovered from injury and Kieran Westwood is expected to be back in goal. Kevin Thornton has recovered from a knock and looks set for a place on the bench and Leon McKenzie, now recovered from a foot injury, could be in the squad. Leon Best and Marcus Hall miss out.
Last season: Coventry 4 Barnsley 0, Barnsley 1 Coventry 4
Last five league matches: Barnsley L L W L L; Coventry L W D L W
Top scorers: Iain Hume (Barnsley) 1; Robbie Simpson (Coventry) 2
Referee: Steve Bratt.
Bristol City v Derby
Goalkeeper Adriano Basso has recovered from a thigh injury and is back in the Bristol City squad but Chris Weale could continue. Christian Ribeiro will be out for up to a year because of anterior cruciate ligament damage. Marvin Elliott (knee), Scott Murray (wrist) and Jordan Walker (leg) are all sidelined.
Derby manager Paul Jewell will be without centre-half Alan Stubbs (knee) so Claude Davis is set to continue alongside Martin Albrechtsen. Fellow defender Lewin Nyatanga also misses out after undergoing an operation to discover the nature of a knee injury but Dean Leacock is available as cover.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Bristol City D L L W W; Derby L L L L L
Top scorers: Steve Brooker (Bristol City) 2; Nathan Ellington (Derby) 3
Referee: Uriah Rennie.
Burnley v Ipswich
Burnley manager Owen Coyle has to choose between goalkeepers Diego Penny and Brian Jensen as the Clarets look for their first points of the season. New signing Penny was dropped after a 4-1 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday and Jensen played in the 2-0 Carling Cup win over Bury on Tuesday. Burnley are boosted by the return of centre-back Clarke Carlisle after suspension but he may be forced to settle for a place on the bench.
Ipswich manager Jim Magilton could hand debuts to Ivan Campo and Ben Thatcher after they arrived on free transfers. Thatcher looks certain to displace youngster Pim Balkestein at left-back although Campo is short of match fitness. David Norris (ankle) could play and Gareth McAuley, Richard Wright, Veliche Shumulikoski and Tommy Smith are all in contention.
Last season: Ipswich 0 Burnley 0, Burnley 2 Ipswich 2
Last five league matches: Burnley L W D L L; Ipswich W D D W L
Top scorers: Martin Paterson (Burnley) 3; Danny Haynes (Ipswich) 2
Referee: Tony Bates (Staffordshire).
Doncaster v Cardiff
Doncaster manager Sean O'Driscoll has no new injury worries following the Carling Cup extra-time defeat at Notts County. Darren Byfield (hernia) and Jason Price (foot) are both out. Lewis Guy, an opening-day scorer against Derby, and Paul Heffernan are both vying to start. Defender Sean McDaid (dislocated knee) is out.
Gavin Rae and Kevin McNaughton should both be fit after suffering knocks in Cardiff's Carling Cup clash against Bournemouth. Defenders Darren Purse and Miguel Comminges battling for places on the bench while Tony Capaldi (knee) is still out. Manager Dave Jones must decide whether to persist with Ross McCormack and Steve Thompson after Jay Bothroyd and Paul Parry impressed during the week.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Doncaster W D W L W; Cardiff L L D W W
Top scorers: Lewis Guy (Doncaster) 1 ; Paul Parry (Cardiff) 2
Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).
Norwich v Blackpool
Last season's top scorer Jamie Cureton should return to the Norwich starting line-up with either Arturo Lupoli or Omar Koroma partnering him. Winger Wes Hoolahan faces his former club while left-back Adam Drury could make his first league start since October 2007. David Bell will have to wait for his debut as he recovers from an ankle injury while Gary Doherty is out for three months with an ankle problem of his own. John Kennedy, Dejan Stefanovic and Lee Croft will hope to return after missing out in midweek.
Blackpool striker Steve Kabba (Achilles) is in contention for a starting role after he took part in training this week. Ben Burgess is currently the only fully fit senior frontman available. Club captain Shaun Barker, who has missed the opening games with a thigh problem, could also be a surprise inclusion in the side.
Last season: Norwich 1 Blackpool 2, Blackpool 1 Norwich 3
Last five league matches: Norwich L L W L L; Blackpool L W L D L
Top scorers: N/A
Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire).
Preston v Crystal Palace
Preston manager Alan Irvine will check on the fitness of striker Chris Brown (sciatica). Goalkeeper Wayne Henderson (back) and defenders Liam Chilvers (Achilles) and Neal Trotman (hernia) remain sidelined. North End will hope to maintain their positive start after beating Ipswich 2-1 at Portman Road last weekend and Chesterfield 2-0 in the Carling Cup first round on Tuesday.
Julian Speroni will replace Darryl Flahavan, a summer signing from Southend, made his debut in the midweek Carling Cup win over Hereford in the Palace goal. Centre-half Matt Lawrence was rested as he builds up his fitness following summer hernia surgery while midfielder Tom Soares and striker James Scowcroft will also return. Winger John Oster grabbed a debut goal against Hereford just 24 hours after signing for Palace and will hope to keep his place.
Last season: Preston 0 Crystal Palace 1, Crystal Palace 2 Preston 1
Last five league matches: Preston L D D L W; Crystal Palace W W L W D
Top scorers: Neil Mellor (Preston) 2; John Oster & Nick Carle (Crystal Palace) 1
Referee: Keith Woolmer (Northamptonshire).
Reading v Plymouth
Midfielder James Harper is to continue as Reading captain as right-back Graeme Murty (calf) is out. Liam Rosenior will continue in his place. Czech Republic midfielder Marek Matejovsky (ankle) will be out for three weeks and also out are midfielder Brynjar Gunnarsson (knee) and defenders Michael Duberry (hamstring) and Sam Sodje (knee). Stephen Hunt will be asked to continue at left-back but brother Noel is unlikely to start as first-choice strikers Leroy Lita and Kevin Doyle are available.
Plymouth could hand a debut to defender David McNamee after he recovered from a hamstring injury following his transfer from Coventry. On-loan Manchester United centre-back Craig Cathcart should make his Championship debut. Also pressing for a first appearance is winger Craig Noone who joined the club from non-league Southport during the week.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Reading L D L W D; Plymouth D D W L D
Top scorers: Noel Hunt & James Henry (Reading) 1; Marcel Seip & Rory Fallon (Plymouth) 1
Referee: Richard Beeby (Northamptonshire).
Sheff Utd v QPR
Lee Hendrie, Matthew Spring and David Cotterill are all pushing for starting places for the Blades. Hendrie shone in the midweek Carling Cup win over Port Vale. Summer loan signing Spring was also impressive on his debut and winger Cotterill, a permanent signing last month, could retain his place. James Beattie (knee) and Keith Gillespie (ankle) miss out again and David Carney is on Olympic duty with Australia.
QPR welcome Gavin Mahon and Fitz Hall back after they missed the midweek Carling Cup win at Swindon. Skipper Martin Rowlands is banned and winger Hogan Ephraim is out with shin splints. Midfielder Akos Buzsaky (ankle) and striker Rowan Vine (broken leg) are on the comeback trail. Exciting youngster Daniel Parejo, the on-loan Real Madrid midfielder, is in line to make his full league debut.
Last season: QPR 1 Sheff Utd 1, Sheff Utd 2 QPR 1
Last five league matches: Sheff Utd W W W L L; QPR D W L L W
Top scorers: Danny Webber, Stephen Quinn & Lee Hendrie (Sheff Utd) 1; Fitz Hall (QPR) 2
Referee: Graham Laws (Tyne & Wear).
Southampton v Birmingham
Southampton captain Michael Svensson is set to return to the side after he was rested for the midweek Carling Cup win at Exeter and should partner Chris Perry at the back, with Andrew Davies still recovering from a summer knee operation. Goalkeeper Kelvin Davis was rested in favour of Bartosz Bialkowski against Exeter and should return. Rookie striker David McGoldrick may move out to the right of midfield to accommodate Stern John, who came off the bench in midweek having served a suspension on the opening day.
Defender David Murphy should be fit despite being substituted at half-time during Birmingham's 4-0 Carling Cup win over Wycombe having injured his groin. Defenders Stephen Kelly (groin) and Radhi Jaidi (back) return but Damien Johnson (back) is still out. Manager Alex McLeish has to decide between Kevin Phillips, Marcus Bent, Cameron Jerome, James McFadden and Garry O'Connor in attack.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Southampton D L D W L; Birmingham L D L W W
Top scorers: David McGoldrick (Southampton) 3; Garry O'Connor, Cameron Jerome, Kevin Phillips, Quincy Owusu-Abeyie & Mehdi Nafti (Birmingham) 1
Referee: Clive Penton (Sussex).
Swansea v Nottm Forest
Swansea manager Roberto Martinez has been boosted by the return of captain Garry Monk, Jason Scotland and Angel Rangel. Monk returns from suspension, while Scotland and Rangel have both overcome groin injuries. Shaun MacDonald could now come into contention but one man who will definitely miss out is defender Fede Bessone (broken rib).
Winger Arron Davies is a major injury doubt for Forest after he limped out of Wednesday's Carling Cup win over Morecambe with a calf problem. Andrew Cole (calf), Joe Garner (knee), Paul Anderson (thigh) and Nathan Tyson (hamstring) miss out, but Kelvin Wilson should return to the side. Lewis McGugan is expected to overcome a thigh injury. Winger Lee Martin could also make his Championship debut after joining on loan until January from Manchester United.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Swansea W L W W L; Nottm Forest W W W W D
Top scorers: Shaun MacDonald (Swansea) 2, ; Robert Earnshaw (Nottm Forest) 2
Referee: Paul Taylor (Hertfordshire).
Watford v Charlton
Hornets striker Tamas Priskin is set to return from a head injury but Will Hoskins could retain his place. Tommy Smith may return to the wide right position he held down last season. There will also be recalls for Mart Poom, captain Jay DeMerit, John Eustace and Jobi McAnuff. Goalkeeper Richard Lee remains the only injury absentee with a knee problem.
Charlton hope Mark Hudson and Jonathan Fortune will shrug off respective ankle and hip injuries they picked up in the the Carling Cup defeat by Yeovil. New signing Nicky Bailey could play in midfield while Nicky Weaver and Andy Gray should return. China captain Zheng Zhi's Olympic campaign is over but he will not be rushed back, and Darren Ambrose is still missing as he recovers from a summer groin operation.
Last season: Charlton 2 Watford 2, Watford 1 Charlton 1
Last five league matches: Watford D L L D D; Charlton D L L W W
Top scorers: Billy Gibson (Watford) 2; Mark Hudson & Andy Gray (Charlton) 1
Referee: Iain Williamson (Berkshire).
Wolves v Sheff Wed
Wolves have no fresh injury worries after they played for 120 minutes in their midweek win over Accrington in the Carling Cup. Goalkeeper Matt Murray and winger Lewis Gobern are unavailable because of knee problems. Mick McCarthy could hand young midfielder Mark Davies a place on the bench after he scored the winner on Tuesday.
Wednesday striker Marcus Tudgay is struggling with a thigh strain and is a major doubt after he missed the midweek Carling Cup defeat to Rotherham. Akpo Sodje is out with a knee injury for up to two months. Francis Jeffers (ankle) will not be rushed back and Wade Small (hamstring) has only just resumed full training.
Last season: Wolves 2 Sheff Wed 1, Sheff Wed 1 Wolves 3
Last five league matches: Wolves D W D W D; Sheff Wed D L W W W
Top scorers: Chris Iwelumo (Wolves) 2; Akpo Sodje, Etienne Esajas & Marcus Tudgay (Sheff Wed) 2,
Referee: M Jones (Mansfield).
