The Football League have clarified the timings of the League One play-offs – now all that is to be decided is which games Sunderland will be involved in.
The Black Cats go into the final week of the season able to finish anywhere between third and fifth, and could face any of the other four contenders for a semi-final place – Portsmouth, Charlton Athletic, Doncaster Rovers or Peterborough United.
If the Black Cats can achieve their goal of finishing third, their first leg will take place away from home on the evening of May 11th, with the return game on May 16th – a Thursday, kicking off 15 minutes later at 7.45pm.
The only way Sunderland can finish third is by beating relegation-threatened Southend United, and by Portsmouth dropping points at home to Accrington Stanley.
The Sunderland half marathon makes things more complicated if they miss out on third place. They will either face Portsmouth or Charlton Athletic, but the date of the game is a movable feast.
Match the Addicks' result at home to Rochdale and they will finish fourth, guaranteeing a trip to The Valley on Sunday May 12 for a lunchtime kick-off.
However, if Sunderland finish fifth they could face either Portsmouth or Charlton at the Stadium of Light in the first leg, but the game will be moved to the Saturday evening squad.
The fourth versus fifth second leg will take place on Thursday, May 16 if Sunderland finish fourth, or the day after if they are fifth.
The play-off final is at Wembley on May 26, with the winners playing in next season’s Championship.
Doncaster and Peterborough are competing for sixth, the highest either can finish.
The final regular-season League One fixtures kick off at 5.30pm, with Sunderland’s game at Roots Hall televised, as all the play-off games will.
SUNDERLAND'S PLAY-OFF FIXTURES
Sunderland's first leg will take place on Saturday May 11, 7.30pm unless they finish fourth, in which case it will be on Sunday May 12 at 12.15pm
Sunderland's second leg will be on Thursday May 16, unless they finish fourth, in which case it will be on Friday May 17. Both second legs kick off at 7.45pm
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