Easter Weekend is traditionally a watershed point in the EFL season, and this year is no exception as the Championship’s automatic promotion fight heats up with Middlesbrough hosting Millwall at the Riverside Stadium on Good Friday.

Middlesbrough climbed to the top of the table in mid-February after bringing in previous runaway leaders Coventry City, but just a month and a half later, the Sky Blues have reclaimed their status as champions-elect, with Boro again battling for second place.

Kim Hellberg’s Smoggies have won just two of their previous eight matches, leaving them in second place but only two points ahead of Ipswich Town, who have a game in hand on everyone else.

The impressive Alex Neil has his Millwall side just behind the Tractor Boys on goal difference, and an away win on Teesside could see the Lions head into Easter Monday in the Championship’s top two, depending on how Ipswich perform against Birmingham City at Portman Road.

In what promises to be a crucial game in North Yorkshire, we’ve looked at the absentees – with team news potentially season-defining, let alone critical for this game, amid news that Ryan Leonard, Casper De Norre, and Alfie Doughty have all returned to training and could play.

It is also noteworthy that Kim Hellberg has stated that he wants to ‘keep Millwall guessing’ about the availability of Hayden Hackney and Morgan Whittaker, both of whom might play.

1Middlesbrough

Alfie Jones

Middlesbrough’s centre-back Alfie Jones remains an injury issue, with Hellberg stating that the defender is ‘getting better’ but will not be ready to play on Good Friday.

Darragh Lenihan

Darragh Lenihan has had an injury-plagued tenure at the Riverside Stadium since joining from Blackburn Rovers, and Jones’ partner centre-back is unavailable for the hosts.

Sam Silvera

Sam Silvera is also nearing a return, but the Australian international does not appear to be ready for this Friday. He sustained a stress fracture in his right foot a few months ago.

2Millwall

Joe Bryan

Left-back Joe Bryan has been out with a toe injury since an FA Cup third round defeat to Burnley in early January, and he is anticipated to be absent once more.

Lukas Jensen

Lukas Jensen returned to U21 football in December after recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon, but the Danish goalkeeper was then sidelined for several months due to a quad ailment.

Daniel Kelly

Alex Neil revealed in late January that Daniel Kelly’s December hamstring injury will keep the young midfielder out for the remainder of the season.

Massimo Luongo

Another Australian international, experienced midfielder Massimo Luongo, is out for the remainder of the season. The 33-year-old sustained an ACL injury in Millwall’s 2-1 defeat of London rivals Queens Park Rangers in mid-October.