ALL weeks are important at this stage of the season, but when it comes to determining the outcome of a promotion race, some are more important than others. In terms of Middlesbrough’s attempts to reclaim a place in the Premier League, the next five days have the potential to be make-or-break.

This evening, Tony Pulis’ side head to Sheffield United to take on a team sitting four points below them in the table. On Saturday, they host Bristol City, who are also four points adrift of their position in the final play-off place.

Two promotion-chasing opponents; two huge opportunities to open up an unassailable gap between themselves and the chasing pack. Ever since Pulis arrived on Teesside, it has felt as though Middlesbrough’s season has been bubbling up to a defining spell. Finally, with five games to go, that pivotal sequence of matches has arrived.

“If we can beat those teams around us, we can open up a bit of a gap,” said Stewart Downing, who has started every game since Pulis replaced Garry Monk at the end of last year. “The next two games are huge because we can do that. We can open up that gap.

“It was vital to get the win at the weekend behind us before we go into these games. We all believe we can go to Sheffield and win. We have a fit squad, and they will know we have players who can cause them problems.”

Boro’s home win over Sheffield United on the second weekend of the season came in dramatic and controversial fashion, with the Blades having what they believed to be a last-gasp equaliser dramatically disallowed.

Since then, Chris Wilder’s side have established themselves as one of the Championship’s surprise packages, bouncing back from a mid-season wobble to remain in the hunt for a play-off place.

They slipped up at the weekend, losing by the odd goal in five in an action-packed South Yorkshire derby with Barnsley, and this evening’s game almost certainly represents their final opportunity to force their way back into the top six.

For Middlesbrough, it is about damaging their opponents’ ambitions while also keeping ahead of a momentum-fuelled Millwall side, who travel to relegation-threatened Bolton Wanderers on the back of an 11-game unbeaten run.

Every season, a team emerges from nowhere to force themselves into the heart of the play-off mix. Few would have predicted Millwall to be that team this time around, but Neil Harris’ side show no signs of slowing despite the pressure ratcheting up. As a result, Boro have precious little room for error despite their weekend win over Nottingham Forest.

“This is a really important game,” admitted Downing. “It is really big for us, but it is also big for them. They are at home and chasing, and the manager has told us all to make sure we are ready for Tuesday night because it’s going to be vital.

“It will be a totally different game to the one against Forest because Sheffield (United) will come at us and give it a real go. We have to be prepared for that. We want to get over that line as quickly as possible so no one can overhaul us, and a good result on Tuesday will go a long way to doing just that.”

Boro have no new injury problems to contend with in the wake of their weekend victory, but Pulis admitted some of his players were looking tired as they saw off a Forest side led by former Boro boss Aitor Karanka, and he may opt to shuffle his pack in order to guard against fatigue.

Adam Clayton would be the likeliest to benefit from a reshuffle, with the midfielder having come off the bench to replace Mo Besic in the final half-hour of Saturday’s game. If Pulis wants to keep things tight in the early stages this evening, he could opt to pair Clayton with Grant Leadbitter, although that ploy didn’t really work when Boro lost to Wolves on Good Friday.

Meanwhile, Patrick Bamford and Adama Traore have both been shortlisted for the Championship Player of the Month award for March. Bamford scored six goals in five games as Boro forced their way back into the play-off positions last month, while Traore also found the net in the games against Barnsley and Brentford.

The other nominees for the Championship award are Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon, Cardiff City midfielder Callum Paterson and Fulham duo Tom Cairney and Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Middlesbrough (probable, 4-1-4-1): Randolph; Shotton, Ayala, Gibson, Friend; Leadbitter; Traore, Howson, Besic, Downing; Bamford.