ACCORDING to Sky Television, the Premiership is the greatest league in the world. If it's excitement you're after, however, it's not even the greatest league in England.

While the top-flight limps to a tedious and predictable conclusion, the Championship is preparing to play host to the mother of all promotion battles.

It is an eight-team fight that promises to go right down to the last kick of the season. Factor in a fascinating relegation battle dominated by the decline of the once-mighty Leeds United, and you have a Championship denouement that leaves up to 18 clubs with something to play for.

All but three or four Premiership clubs could stop playing now, and it's doubtful that anyone would notice.

Take the title race for example. Today's top-of-the-table clash between Liverpool and Manchester United supposedly has the potential to breathe new life into the race for the Premiership crown.

A home win at Anfield could leave United just six points ahead of Chelsea, with the reigning champions still boasting an all-important game in hand.

Sounds exciting. Flip the coin the other way, though, and Sir Alex Ferguson's side could be 12 points clear this evening, with the title race all but over.

There's always the phoney European war to keep us occupied of course - I can barely contain my excitement at the prospect of Bolton and Portsmouth battling it out for that coveted Intertoto Cup spot - but it is a damning indictment of the current Premiership order that the greatest thrill in the final two months of the season is likely to come from a voyeuristic observation of West Ham's implosion. The Hammers might be leaving the top-flight, but at least they're throwing themselves into it.

Too many Premiership fixtures have already assumed a halfhearted air, something that can hardly be said about the Championship.

On Monday, West Brom were top of the table. By Tuesday night, it was Birmingham. Derby went into last night's game with Colchester knowing a win would put them on top of the pile, and Sunderland have automatic promotion aspirations of their own following a run of seven wins from their last nine league games.

Best of all, the promotion rivals seem to be playing each other every day at the moment.

Today, it's Sunderland at West Brom. Tomorrow, it's Birmingham at home to Cardiff. On Monday, Southampton travel to Preston.

Factor in the intriguing possibility of a Roy Keane-Mick McCarthy head-to-head in the play-off final and you have all the ingredients needed for a climactic finish to the season.

The choice is a simple one. Succumb to the temptations of the Championship, or switch on your Sky and settle back to watch Manchester City playing Aston Villa for the right to finish 13th in the top-flight.

I've already made my decision. Next stop, the Hawthorns.