The Championship season is a notoriously long one, with those experienced in the roller-coaster ride of the race for the Premier League knowing that nothing is certain until we're well into the new year.
Late runs for the play-offs, leaders slipping down the rankings and spectacular collapses are all part and parcel of what is always a thrilling race to the finish line.
Right now, the contenders are jockeying for position, and while there is a long way to go, every point at this stage is another step on the road to promotion.
Middlesbrough are enjoyng one of their best ever starts to a Championship campaign, with Rob Edwards bringing a new brand of football to Teesside that is not only winning fans, but more importantly getting results.
The table is starting to take shape, with Coventry City and Frank Lampard stamping their authority over their rivals - but some huge fixtures are now on the horizon.
The feeling is that November's schedule will tell us a lot about who has the staying power and who may be just a flash in the pan, with Boro confident of staying not only in the picture, but continuing to lead the way.
While Edwards' men have some testing fixtures in the coming month, some of their rivals will be truly tested . . . not least the Sky Blues.
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Indeed it is the showdown between the two sides at the Riverside on Tuesday, November 25 which catches the eye, in what will be a mouthwatering occasion under the lights on Teesside.
It's not Coventry's only big test. Lampard's side must go to fifth-placed Stoke and sixth-placed Charlton next month, as well as tough games at Wrexham and at home to Sheffield United and Midlands rivals West Bromwich Albion.
Millwall have surprised many with their start to the season, and they will be confident of staying in the race over the next four weeks. Alex Neil's side only face one side in the current top 10, and that's a home date with Preston.
As for Boro, they are looking to add some attacking flair to their strong defensive set-up, but that game with Coventry is the only match with their current promotion rivals.
A trip to tenth-placed Leicester follows Saturday's game at Watford, while Birmingham, Oxford and Derby are all in the bottom half of the table.
Of course one of the attractions of the Championship is that anyone is capable of beating anyone else on their day - but Boro should be rightly confident of a strong position ahead of those Christmas fixtures.
Middlesbrough's November fixtures
Saturday 1: Watford (A)
Tuesday 4: Leicester (A)
Saturday 8: Birmingham (H)
Saturday 22: Oxford (A)
Tuesday 25: Coventry (H)
Saturday 29: Derby (H)
Coventry's November fixtures
Friday, October 31: Wrexham (A)
Tuesday 4: Sheffield United (H)
Saturday 8: Stoke City (A)
Saturday 22: West Brom (H)
Tuesday 25: Middlesbrough (A)
Saturday 29: Charlton (H)
Millwall's November fixtures
Saturday 1: Oxford (A)
Tuesday 4: Birmingham (A)
Saturday 8: Preston (H)
Saturday 22: Portsmouth (A)
Wednesday 26: Sheffield Wednesday (H)
Saturday 29: Southampton (H)
Bristol City's November fixtures
Saturday 1: Stoke City (A)
Tuesday 4: Blackburn Rovers (H)
Friday 7: Watford (A)
Saturday 22: Swansea City (H)
Wednesday 26: Wrexham (A)
Saturday 29: Portsmouth (A)
Stoke City's November fixtures
Saturday 1: Bristol City (H)
Tuesday 4: Oxford (A)
Saturday 8: Coventry (H)
Saturday 22: Leicester (A)
Tuesday 25: Charlton (H)
Saturday 29: Hull City (H)
Charlton Athletic's November fixtures
Saturday 1: Swansea City (H)
Tuesday 4: West Brom (A)
Saturday 8: Wrexham (A)
Saturday 22: Southampton (H)
Tuesday 25: Stoke City (A)
Saturday 29: Coventry (A)