Ipswich are looking to make a remarkable breakthrough after returning to the Premier League for the first time in 22 years, while Leeds are hoping for a comeback from their rivals in Saturday's dramatic showdown in the Championship promotion race.
Going into the final round, Ipswich are in second place, three points behind Leeds.
Kieran McKenna's Ipswich only need a draw against relegation-bound Huddersfield to seal their second successive promotion following last season's League One defeat.
If Leeds lose or draw with Southampton, Ipswich will return to the top flight.
However, with Leeds ahead on goal difference, if the Suffolk club lose and Daniel Farke's side win, Elland Road's side will be promoted instead.
It's a suitably tense culmination of a fascinating Championship promotion battle, with Leicester already securing a return to the Premier League as title winners 12 months after being relegated.
As the battle for promotion intensified in April, McKenna told his players: “It's not our job to dream, it's our job to execute.''
But if Ipswich can secure a lucrative place among the Premier League elite after more than 20 years in the wilderness, it would be a dream come true at Portman Road.
After four games without a win, Ipswich looked set to make it to the play-offs, but Leeds also stumbled to just one win from five, paving the way for the Tractor Boys to move into second place with a win over Coventry on Tuesday.
“Anything can happen. I don't think it's going to be smooth sailing,” McKenna said of the promotion finale. “There's definitely going to be some tension in the game, but it's going to be important that we do enough of the right things to keep it that way.”
Ipswich are the fourth team in the Premier League era to be promoted from the third tier, following Watford, Norwich and Southampton.
He rebelled against those who doubted him. The Tractor Boys last played in the Premier League in 2001-02, when they were shockingly relegated just one year after finishing fifth in the top flight and qualifying for the UEFA Cup.
Ipswich's decline was the lowest in 2019, dropping into the third tier for the first time since 1957.
Ipswich were in purgatory after finishing in the standings for consecutive seasons, but things finally brightened on December 16, 2021 with the bold decision to hire McKenna.
The Northern Irishman was seen as a gamble in his first managerial role, but after gaining high praise in Manchester United's youth ranks, he was promoted to assistant first-team coach by Jose Mourinho.
The 37-year-old defied his doubters to end Ipswich's four-year stay in the third tier and lead them to the brink of the promised land.
Leeds were relegated from the top tier last season and will be heartbroken if they end up in the play-off draw after spending most of the season in the top two.
“It's not in our hands anymore, but the race is not over,” Falke said.
West Bromwich Albion can secure a place in the play-offs with a win against Preston, but given their goal difference advantage over seventh-placed Hull, a draw is likely enough.
Norwich can also guarantee a place in the play-offs if they can avoid defeat to third-placed Birmingham, who are fighting to avoid relegation to the Third Division for the first time since 1995.
Birmingham are one point behind Plymouth and Argyle need to lose to Hull to have any chance of survival.
Huddersfield, who are second to the bottom, have a much lower goal difference than Plymouth, meaning they will realistically be at a disadvantage no matter what they do against Ipswich.
SMG/KCA
© Agence France-Presse
