Four clubs battle for Premier League promotion as Championship play-offs begin. Millwall, Southampton, Middlesbrough and Hull City compete for the final top-flight spot, with only one earning automatic promotion. Coventry City and Ipswich Town have already secured their places.

Millwall reached the final four despite low pre-season expectations. The Alex Neil-led Lions secured 83 points and boast the division's best away record with 18 clean sheets. Their set-piece efficiency stands out - 41% of goals came from dead ball situations. Having reached League One play-off finals in 2021, 2022 and 2023, Millwall know how to grind out results in these high-pressure matches.

Southampton entered the play-offs firing on all cylinders under Tonda Eckert, who took charge in November. Since his appointment, the Saints accumulated 80 points and 69 goals - most in the Championship. A stunning 14 wins in their final 19 matches propelled them from mid-table to play-off contenders. Having spent last season in the Premier League, Southampton aim to return immediately.

Middlesbrough represent the Championship's most successful play-off franchise with one promotion from five campaigns. Kim Hellberg oversees a Boro side that earned 80 points but collapsed in the final month with seven winless matches. The Teesside club last played top-flight football in 2019 and hasn't won promotion since 1988. Their semi-final against Southampton promises an attacking spectacle.

The play-offs reward resilience and peak-form teams. While Millwall's defensive solidity and Southampton's recent surge suggest they'll advance, any of these clubs can claim promotion on penalties or extra time.