Southampton clash v Leeds United is more vital than you may think: View | OneFootball

Leeds United host Southampton in the final day of the regular Championship season on Saturday afternoon, and the Whites could still achieve automatic promotion with a victory, if Ipswich Town fail to earn four points from their two remaining games.

Russell Martin's Saints have faltered lately, suffering three consecutive defeats, including a 5-0 battering at the hands of now promoted Leicester City, and a 1-0 defeat to previously relegation-threatened Stoke City last time out.

These results mean that Saturday's clash between the Whites and the Saints is no longer the straight shoot-out for a potential automatic promotion spot it could have been, but this game is still vital for Martin's side.

Saints must find form before play-offs

The Hampshire outfit have been way off the pace lately, conceding eight goals in their last three games, and scoring just one, so it is vital that they get themselves back on form before the play-offs begin.

Play-off games are often close affairs which are all about momentum, so at the very least, the Saints will be wanting to get their confidence back ahead of their most important games yet.

The St Mary's side have scored an impressive 85 goals so far this campaign, largely thanks to Adam Armstrong, who is the Championship's second top goalscorer with 20 goals in 45 second tier outings.

However, the Saints' major shortcoming is their defence, as they have conceded 62 goals, which is more than any other current top-six side except for Norwich City, who have shipped 63 goals.

Martin and co will have to work on shoring up defensively, as they simply cannot afford to concede so many in the play-offs if they are to achieve their aim of an immediate Premier League return.

A win over the Whites would be great for Saints momentum

Should Kieran McKenna's Tractor Boys complete their task in hand, one of the Saints' play-off rivals will be Daniel Farke's Whites, and the opportunity to defeat the Yorkshire outfit on the last day of the regular season is not one that Martin's men will want to pass up.

If the Elland Road side drop out of the top two, they will enter the play-offs somewhat disheartened, and on bad form, especially after Friday night's shock 4-0 loss to Queen's Park Rangers.

An underperforming Whites could benefit the Saints' own promotion push, while fellow top-six outfits West Brom and Norwich City have also struggled for form of late.

The Baggies have lost their last three games, and have won just one in their last five, while the Canaries have won just two of their last five games, and have endured two consecutive draws.

David Wagner's side face Birmingham City on the last day of the season, which is a potential banana skin, as the Blues require a win to stand a chance of Championship survival.

So, if the Saints manage to triumph over the Whites at Elland Road on Saturday, they could enter the play-offs as the team with the most confidence and momentum, while defeat could have the opposite effect.