This weekend offers a delightful double of npower Championship action as teams from different league positions battle it out for a win for all very different reasons.

First up on Friday is a 7.45pm kick-off at Selhurst Park with Crystal Palace playing host to Derby County with both sides looking for a much needed three points to cement a push up the table.

Palace boss Dougie Freeman will be looking for a repeat performance shown at Old Trafford on Wednesday night in the Carling Cup. A fantastic 2-1 extra-time win over Premier League big boys Manchester United is an accolade not many sides can boast about and will do wonders for his team's confidence.

Although playing 120 minutes of extra time probably isn't the most ideal preparation and with a Friday evening kick-off it certainly doesn't give much time to rest which could turn out to be more of a hindrance. Interestingly, league form has been a bit of an issue for 12th Palace as they have only won one out of the last six games.

However if they can muster enough energy to pick up the three points then they could find themselves shooting back up the league.

If you thought that was bad spare a moment for Derby who have seen promotion hopes fade fast after losing five consecutive league games on the spin.

Manager Nigel Clough will be wondering where it has all gone wrong as his side has slipped down the table to 16th. Despite such a dreadful run, the Rams should have no reason to give up as only three points separate them from 8th placed Blackpool.

Although worrying for the Rams they haven't won at Selhurst Park since 2002 but they do have a major advantage over Palace in the history books. In a total of 62 encounters Derby have won 28, lost 18 and drawn 16 something they can certainly take heart from.

The other match live on TV this weekend is set to be a real interesting affair between two clubs at different ends of the table.

Saturday sees Bristol City take on highflying Middlesbrough at Ashton Gate in a 5.20pm kick-off. The Robins will feel even more confident after moving out of the relegation zone with an impressive point at Watford on Tuesday.

City managed to stun the Vicarage Road faithful by coming back from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw to pull them out of the danger zone. They sit 20th on goal difference, with three other clubs, and could easily slip back if the weekend's results go against them.

Since manager Derek McInnes has taken the helm, City have really turned things round. A home defeat to Birmingham City may not have been the best start for McInnes but since then his side are undefeated, taking 14 points out of a possible 18 - a statistic that any manager would be proud of.

It means that Middlesbrough could be wishing that they played the West Country club a little earlier in the season but Boro are certainly no push over. The Riverside side currently sit fourth in the table and have also got some good results in recent weeks which shows that this game could be a stern test for the home team.

Boss Tony Mowbray will be hoping his side can replicate the same result from last year when they visited Ashton Gate which ended in an emphatic 4-0 win. An own goal from Khalifa Cisse, a double from Leroy Lita and one from Barry Robson made it awkward viewing for City fans, especially with former England goalkeeper David James sent off the dying minutes.

But with the way that both teams are performing it is unlikely to be as one sided this time round although nothing can discounted when it comes to the npower Championship.

For the full list of televised games please click here