Plenty on the line for individuals

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Five games to go, nine points clear and a far superior goal difference - if you're still holding your breath, probably time to let go of those relegation fears.

It may not be mathematically certain for either, but Huddersfield Town and Blackburn are both virtually assured of a Championship place next term. Time to get out the flip flops and follow the Premier League relegation battle to see which new grounds can be ticked off next term.

But before that, there's some football to be played. Fans, players and manager alike all want to win, and there's plenty on the line for each individual.

Summer recruitment has started. A left back has been signed, a goalkeeper is on trial and Town are expected to be active in the market. Time for those already on the books to prove why they should be starting next year - once Wagner has had a summer window to reshape his squad and mould it in his image.

The majority of links for Town have been with defenders. A clean sheet would be a more than adequate response from the current line-up.

Jason Davidson's time to shine

Huddersfield Town's Jason Davidson

The most obvious candidate under threat is Jason Davidson. A senior Australian international, he has played just 10 games since David Wagner arrived in Yorkshire - his minutes jettisoned by a pair of loanees.

A teenage Ben Chilwell and Boro's James Husband, who can't get a game for his parent club and spent time at Fulham earlier this term, have both been preferred at left back.

And now Wagner has moved to bring in a third new face at the position, in the form of Chris Löwe, who will pitch up in July .

No wonder there's talk of a curse similar to that of the Defence Against the Dark Arts position.

Statistically, Davidson stacks up to Husband , but he's yet to convince the supporters or the manager.

He has five games to show exactly why a Premier League side moved to bring him in after the 2014 World Cup.

Beware set pieces - especially throw-ins

Huddersfield Town v Blackburn Rovers, Sky Bet Championship: Blackburn's Grant Hanley and Huddersfield's Joe Murphy and Mark Hudson in action.
Huddersfield Town v Blackburn Rovers, Sky Bet Championship: Blackburn's Grant Hanley and Huddersfield's Joe Murphy and Mark Hudson in action.

With two physically imposing centre-backs and a team that has thrived on dead-ball situations since their latter Premier League days, it shouldn't come as much of a surprise to see Blackburn dominating the set piece stats.

They've scored more from set pieces than they have from open play this season.

The phrase "diving into tackles" should have a bright red line scored through it in the pre-match planning.

Corners and free-kicks are known sources of danger, but don't forget the perils of the long throw.

Blackburn have scored the most goals directly from throws this season of any team in the Championship, with three.

Time to end the Ewood Park hoodoo

Blackburn Rovers' new manager Paul Lambert talks to the media during a press conference at Ewood Park, Blackburn.

The last time Town won at Blackburn Rovers, Jackie Wilson was number 1 with 'Reet Petite'.

Boxing Day 1986 was the last time the travelling support celebrated a victory in that corner of Lancashire.

Since, the figures make for depressing reading.

Blackburn are unbeaten in the last 10 league meetings with the Terriers (W5 D5).

Huddersfield have failed to score in five consecutive visits to Ewood Park, but have kept clean sheets in each the last two away trips.

But today finds the sides separated by a single point in the bottom half of the Championship. The next chapter needs to read differently.

Wagner unlikely to make wholesale changes

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While opposite number Paul Lambert has spoken of using the opportunity to play the kids, Wagner has played down talk of wholesale experiments.

Speaking after the draw with Hull he declared he wanted to win every game Town contest, and again in his pre-match press briefing he was cautious in addressing the issue on a day the u21s were confirmed as Champions of the PL2 Northern Division.

Unafraid to give youth a chance, Wagner has overseen the breakthrough of Philip Billing.

But he made it clear the next crop have to convince Frankie Bunn and then him, and they have to be good enough to get their chance - which they must make sure they take.

Expect the senior faces to dominate the remaining teamsheets.