WITH Ipswich Town cementing their place in the Championship top six, they can look forward to the easiest run-in of the teams competing for promotion.The Blues have just three top ten teams to play in their final 13 matches.

Elvin King

WITH Ipswich Town cementing their place in the Championship top six, they can look forward to the easiest run-in of the teams competing for promotion.

The Blues have just three top ten teams to play in their final 13 matches.

On paper this gives Jim Magilton's side a great chance of at least reaching the play-offs - and the possibility even of an automatic promotion to the Premier League.

And after nine points from their last four games - six gained away from home - the next three months or so look as though they could be memorable ones for Town supporters.

Ipswich play at table-topping Stoke City on Saturday, and the only two top ten teams they have to meet are Charlton and Hull City - both at home.

“We have played most of the top teams twice, and although no game is easy in this division we are well placed for a real go at promotion,” said Magilton.

Magilton's transfer window signings have bolstered promotion claims with the poor away form having been arrested since the arrivals of David Norris, Alan Quinn, Velice Sumulikoski and Stephen Bywater.

Town will be in good heart going into the game at the Britannia Stadium this weekend, and if they can come out of the game - and the visit to Southampton seven days later - with their current unbeaten away run intact they will be wonderfully placed for a serious assault on promotion.

Some of Magilton's first team squad could be in action in tomorrow's behind-closed-doors friendly against Irish side Galway United.

Tony Cousins' side are spending a week at the Town training ground as part of their pre-season training - with a first league match on March 7.

It could give the likes of Gavin Williams, Sylvain Legwinski and Chris casement another chance to impress in front of scouts with Magilton not going to stand in the way of loan deals that he feels will be right for the play and his club.

Williams and Legwinski in particular look out in the cold following the signing of three midfielders last month, and the former would not look favourably at a move nearer his son who lives in Wales.

But the former Welsh international would not be keen on dropping drop down a level.

Fixtures left against sides in the top 10

Stoke City

Ipswich (H)

Burnley (H)

Watford (A)

Crystal Palace (H)

Bristol City (H)

Watford

Burnley (A)

Bristol City (A)

Stoke (H)

Plymouth (A)

Hull (A)

West Brom (A)

Crystal Palace (H)

Bristol City

Hull (H)

Charlton (A)

Watford (H)

Plymouth (H)

Stoke (A)

West Brom

Hull (H)

Plymouth (H)

Crystal Palace (H)

Charlton (A)

Watford (H)

Charlton

Bristol City (H)

Burnley (A)

Ipswich (A)

West Brom (H)

Plymouth (A)

Ipswich

Stoke (A)

Charlton (H)

Hull (H)