Former Leeds United star David Prutton has claimed, in quotes reported by the Yorkshire Evening Post, that United could benefit from one aspect, should Marcelo Bielsa fail to guide the Whites into the Premier League without going through the Play-Offs.
Going up automatically looks pretty unlikely as we head into the penultimate round of fixtures, as Sheffield United were able to pull three points clear of us on Easter Monday.
The Blades’ superior goal difference would likely ensure they sit above us in the standings come Sunday evening, too, even if they were to fall victim to Ipswich Town and we beat Aston Villa.
That would leave us with a tetchy final day of the season at Portman Road, knowing the Tractor Boys are capable of an upset, while the potential for a top-two spot is there with a win.
First up, though, we have to focus on Aston Villa, as anything but a win and it’s Play-Offs for us. The Birmingham-based outfit are also a side we could face at Wembley in the Final, but Prutton is confident that we would be able to leave behind the gremlins of the regular season to secure top-tier football.
“Of course there is a chance of them winning the Play-Offs, absolutely,” he said. “You can look at Aston Villa winning 10 in a row but before that, and before Jack Grealish came back and pulled his finger out, they were 13th in the table and things can change pretty rapidly.
“The other side of it is that if you go into the Play-Offs, then the slate is wiped clean. Leeds and Villa will meet on Sunday and they can maybe get a good eye of what they are about and then maybe come up against them in the Play-Offs.
“It might be a good challenge to see what the possibility could be and who they are facing if that comes around.
“There are obviously questions about momentum, and Leeds will need to be strong mentally and emotionally and physically as well.
“You can’t take that away because Leeds will be getting asked the most demanding of questions after the most demanding of seasons.”