A top-six spot seemed a distant hope when Neil Harris took charge of Cardiff City back in November.
But, with just two fixtures left to play, the Bluebirds could conceivably secure their place in the play-offs this weekend, should other results fall their way, too.
Here, we look at what Cardiff need to ensure the pressure is off in the final game against Hull City next week.
How the play-off race currently looks
5 Nottingham Forest - P 44; GD +12; Pts 70.
6 Cardiff City - P 44; GD +5; Pts 67.
7 Millwall - P 44; GD +4; Pts 65.
8 Swansea City - P 44; GD +5; Pts 64.
9 Preston - P 44; GD +3; Pts 62.
10 Bristol City - P 44; GD -4; Pts 62.
This weekend's key play-off fixtures
Middlesbrough v Cardiff City
Preston v Birmingham City
Queens Park Rangers v Millwall
Swansea City v Bristol City
Cardiff City
First things first, Cardiff need to sort their own business out. Anything other than a win against Middlesbrough this Saturday afternoon will not be enough.
They sit two points ahead of Millwall at present, with just one goal separating them on goal difference, so a draw up at Boro, no matter the Lions' result, will still mean there is work to do on the final day.
If City want to secure a play-off spot by the end of the weekend they simply must beat Neil Warnock's team up at the Riverside.
If they do that, then this is what needs to happen with the chasing teams...
Millwall
Millwall, as previously mentioned, are two points behind Cardiff.
They travel to QPR, who are safe from relegation and have nothing to play for, on Saturday and will be desperate for all three points.
Indeed, if the Bluebirds beat Middlesbrough and Millwall either draw or lose then their play-off hopes are finished.
If Cardiff take care of Boro then Millwall need to match them against QPR or they are out of the race.
Swansea City
The Swans are just a point behind Millwall and have the same goal difference as Cardiff City.
Steve Cooper's men take on Bristol City at the Liberty Stadium and, if we presume Cardiff win which they need to for this to happen, have to win to be in with a shout on the final day.
Should they win, they would be three points behind the Bluebirds heading into the final day and hoping for a big favour from Hull City.
If Cardiff win and Swansea either draw or lose, though, then the latter are out of the race as well.
Preston and Bristol City
Both Preston and Bristol City sit on 62 points, five points behind Cardiff City with two games to play.
It's fairly obvious, then, that they need Cardiff to lose to Boro this weekend to keep their faint play-off hopes alive.
If the Bluebirds win up at Riverside, though, both teams are out of the running mathematically. So Bristol's result at Swansea or Preston's clash with Birmingham City will become irrelevant.
No favours needed here for Cardiff, they just need to put them out of the running with a win up on Teesside.
Derby County
The last team, mathematically, in the race is Derby County, who are six points behind the Bluebirds.
Any sort of positive result for City up at Boro will dump the Rams out of the race.
They play Leeds United on Sunday, have to win convincingly, due to goal difference, and pray Cardiff lose.
Who are the favourites to finish in the top six?
Nottingham Forest 1/66
Cardiff City 2/5
Millwall 7/2
Swansea City 5/1
Preston 33/1
Bristol City 250/1
(Odds courtesy of Sky Bet, correct at time of publishing)
Remaining fixtures
- Cardiff City - Middlesbrough (A), Hull City (H).
Millwall - Queens Park Rangers (A), Huddersfield Town (H).
- Swansea City - Bristol City (H), Reading (A).
- Preston North End - Birmingham City (H), Bristol City (A).
- Bristol City - Swansea City (A), Preston (H).
