Leeds United will return from the international break knowing they have four final home and away fixtures between them and the Premier League.
Daniel Farke has outlined how four home wins and an undefeated run on the road will likely be enough points for promotion. Indeed, that would take United to at least 96 points - no team has accumulated that tally not finished in the Championship top two.
Of course, there will be natural anxiety, especially given what happened last season. Leeds, on paper, have the most appealing run-in schedule, which starts with Swansea City at Elland Road on Saturday.
But some supporters may point to the run-in totals of previous Championship seasons as to why United ought not to get ahead of themselves. We have taken a look at the points tallies of the final eight games in the Championship seasons from the last decade and have taken an average.
2024
Things started to unravel with the 2-2 draw with Watford in late March. After a 3-1 win over Hull City, United recorded a three-game winless run with just one victory from the final six games.
That was a tight 4-3 win over Middlesbrough, with only a goalless draw with Sunderland breaking up defeats to Coventry City, Blackburn Rovers, Queens Park Rangers and Southampton. Everyone knows what happened next.
Total: 8 points
2020
Leeds United's LIam Cooper lifts the Championship trophy in 2020
Leeds United's LIam Cooper lifts the Championship trophy in 2020 (Image: Getty Images)
The unforgettable season - which will be some five years ago this summer. United were undefeated in their final eight matches, with a draw with Luton Town the only time they dropped points.
The other seven wins included a 3-0 against Fulham, a 5-0 over Stoke City and a 4-0 final day triumph over Charlton Athletic. Leeds won the league title by 10 points and Liam Cooper lifted the title in front of an empty stadium amid the Covid pandemic.
Total: 22 points
2019
A stumbling end to the season ended in heartbreak for United against a certain Frank Lampard. But before the play-offs began, Leeds had failed to gain half of the points on offer in the final eight league matches.
It was going so well with wins over Millwall, Preston North End and Sheffield Wednesday only interrupted by a 1-0 loss to Birmingham City. But then Leeds finished the regular season without another victory and just one point from the last four games, a loss to Wigan Athletic in there.
Total: 10 points
2018
United were not challenging for a top six place this season, as the Whites eventually finished 13th. There were just three wins in the final eight matches.
Bolton Wanderers, Barnsley and QPR were knocked down and a 1-1 draw with Sunderland was earned. But the rest were defeats, including a 2-1 loss to Farke’s Norwich City.
Total: 10 points
2017
Newcastle United v Leeds United at St James' Park, Aleksander Mitrovic
Newcastle United v Leeds United at St James' Park, Aleksander Mitrovic (Image: The Chronicle)
Leeds ended up occupying the final place outside of the play-offs this year thanks to an awful run-in. There was just one win against Preston in the last eight games and no victories were recorded in the final five.
A draw against Newcastle United was commendable and a tie with Norwich was acceptable but the lockout with relegation-bound Wigan was woeful. The 2-1 defeat to Burton Albion was another low point.
Total: 6 points
2016
With United not under any pressure, floating in mid-table, the team recorded just two defeats in their last eight games. The run-in contained three wins against Birmingham City, Reading and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
A certain Chris Wood finished with 13 goals that season, with United themselves finishing 13th under Steve Evans, who replaced Uwe Rosler in the prior October. All have taken rather different paths in the decade since.
Total: 12 points
Average run-in tally (eight games)
11 points
With that return this year, it would take Leeds to 91 points, which is risking it. United tallied 90 points last season and didn’t finish inside the top two. The equivalent of three wins and two draws would be a hugely disappointing return for Farke’s men.
It does outline United’s trajectory and what position they find themselves in. They are top of the table with eight games to and with promotion rivals Sheffield United and Burnley still to face each other.
United will know they must take care of business at their end, regardless. Their destiny remains in their own hands.