AND so it's to the play-offs.

Four teams and five games, the battle to join Burnley and Sheffield United in winning promotion to the Premier League.

Luton and Middlesbrough have been preparing for the end of season shootout for the last few weeks, whereas Coventry secured their place on the final day, as did Sunderland in the most dramatic fashion.

The Black Cats are now preparing for a semi-final double header against Luton, with the first leg taking place on Saturday at the Stadium of Light and the return game at Kenilworth Road next Tuesday. Boro, meanwhile, will go at it with final day opponents Coventry again, with the Sky Blues hosting the first leg on Sunday and the return tie at the Riverside on Wednesday.

So, how will it all play-out? How are the teams looking? What are their strengths and are there any issues? And who are the favourites?

Luton Town

Luton were ninth when Nathan Jones left for the second time in November, and at that stage a second successive top six finish might have been deemed a long shot. Jones seemed the ideal fit at Kenilworth Road and, although he's had a couple of disastrous spells elsewhere, finding a replacement to build on his momentum was a tough ask.

But Luton had their arch rivals Watford to thank for sacking Rob Edwards in what, you could easily make a case, has been the worst decision of the season in the second tier. The Hornets went backwards, the Hatters soared.

The signing of Carlton Morris from Barnsley last summer turned into something of a masterstroke. He's scored 20 goals this season, one of which came in controversial fashion from the spot against Middlesbrough recently.

What makes Luton's clash with Sunderland intriguing is the fact both sides are better on the road. Luton have picked up 41 points away this season compared to 39 at home, Sunderland 39 on their travels compared to 30 at the Stadium of Light.

Luton, with 57, scored the fewest goals in the top six, but did score more set-piece goals than their three play-off rivals, something Sunderland will no doubt be focused on, especially without a fit recognised centre-half.

Middlesbrough

If Luton finishing in the top six was uncertain when they swapped managers earlier this season, then the same outcome for Boro seemed extremely unlikely when Chris Wilder was replaced by Michael Carrick.

Only goals scored kept Boro outside the relegation zone after the defeat at Preston in Carrick's first game in charge. Time to panic? It quickly became apparent that wasn't the way the head coach went about things. With an air of real calm, Carrick quickly transformed Boro. It's been evident for months that a play-off place was the absolute least they'd achieve this season.

Kieran Scott has also played a crucial role. Boro's recruitment has been shrewd. The loan addition of Ryan Giles was one of the best bits of Championship business last summer and Cameron Archer was undoubtedly the best signing in the division in the January window.

Marcus Forss was a bit-part player under Wilder but has been crucial under Carrick, taking impressively to his new role on the right flank and providing goals from deep.

But when it comes to improvement, Chuba Akpom is undoubtedly the headline act. Having seemed destined for the exit door last summer, he's fired his way to the Championship's golden boot in remarkable fashion. Carrick, says the former Arsenal striker, is the manager he's been dreaming about his whole career.

Goals are Boro's strong point. Are there any concerns?

Well they've lost some of the momentum they had a couple of months back after three games without a win, but they all came after a place in the play-offs was secured and calm Carrick and his players insist confidence hasn't been at all dented.

Then there's the injury situation, with Jonny Howson, Dael Fry, Aaron Ramsey and the aforementioned Forss all missing the final weeks of the season.

The squad is deep but the return of any of those players would be a huge boost.

Coventry City

From League Two to the Championship play-offs, Mark Robins has done a quite remarkable job at Coventry City.

He admitted himself after the final day draw at Middlesbrough that reaching the top six was a "phenomenal" achievement for the Sky Blues - all the more so considering the start they had this season.

The Coventry Building Society Arena pitch was ruled dangerous at the start of the season after it was used for the Commonwealth Games rugby sevens tournament, so Robins' side had to rearrange home games.

They picked up just three points from their first seven games and were rock bottom when they beat Boro back in October.

Their shining light has again been Viktor Gyokeres, who has scored 21 of their 58 league goals. Reports emerged this week claiming Wolves are leading the race to sign the striker this summer, with West Ham and Crystal Palace also keen.

Gyokeres is a selfless goalscorer and has 10 assists to his name as well, as does the extremely impressive Gustavo Hamer, who scored Coventry's goal at the Riverside on Monday. Only Boro's Ryan Giles and Sunderland's Jack Clarke have more assists this season, with 11.

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Do they have the experience to deal with the pressure? Can they find another level?

Robins said this week: "We're under no illusions, but what a great position to be in, I'm proud of everybody.

"They need to give it the game of their lives... that's what it's going to take. Nobody gives you anything for nothing.

"We've got players in there with big hearts and they've been fantastic for 46 games. There's three more to go, probably the biggest games of any of their careers to this point.

"We're three games away from something really, really special. It gives us a real chance and builds the excitement which is what it's all about."

Sunderland

Sunderland spent only 18 days in the Championship's top six between October 1 and Monday's final outing.

They long flirted with it, but it always felt like they might end up just one or two results shy of finishing in the play-off places.

Given their quite brutal injury list, it would have been understandable had the Black Cats fallen away in the final weeks of the season, and yet they did the complete opposite, setting off on a nine-match unbeaten run that culminated in that brilliant 3-0 second half dismantling of Preston on the final day.

So, can they do what at the start of the season would have been deemed the unthinkable and win a second successive promotion? Mowbray has smartly played down his side's chances all season and it still feels like they've got nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Former boss Alex Neil this week described Sunderland's young team as "fearless" and even without a recognised striker, they have a forward line packed with matchwinners. And it plays into their hands that the second leg is away from home.

Sunderland are superb on the road and if they go to Kenilworth Road with any sort of positive result from the first leg, they'll be lethal on the counter if the onus is on Luton to attack.

Regardless of how the coming games play out, Mowbray has worked wonders since his August appointment. He wasn't up for the official award but you could easily make a case for Mogga being the Championship Manager of the Season.

They face a Luton team very much in form. They're 14 unbeaten and their only defeat in their last 20 games came against champions Burnley. The set-piece threat carried by the Hatters is a concern as well. Alessandro Barcherini had sleepless nights trying to figure out how the Black Cats would contain West Brom from dead balls. Coffee will again likely be his best friend over the coming days.

But going forward, Sunderland have the players to terrify any Championship backline. You won't find a Championship defender who relishes coming up against Amad, Roberts and Clarke.

So, who are the favourites?

In short, Boro. According to the bookies, anyway.

Carrick's side are 13/8 with William Hill, ahead of Luton at 5/2, Sunderland at 11/4 and Coventry at 7/2.

At various stages this season, the odds on all four teams to win promotion would have been long - especially Boro and Coventry after tough starts.

But the Championship never fails to surprise. What will the next few weeks have in store?