BIRMINGHAM, England (Interstat) — A pivotal Championship clash with playoff implications sees Birmingham City FC host Sheffield United at St. Andrew’s on Saturday.

Both sides enter the match on contrasting runs of form. Birmingham snapped a three-game winless skid with a 1-0 victory over Queens Park Rangers on Wednesday. Prior to that, they had suffered defeats to Charlton Athletic, Middlesbrough and Millwall.

Sheffield United, meanwhile, looks to rebound from a midweek setback, a 2-1 loss at Norwich City that halted a modest two-match unbeaten streak. Their recent form has been mixed, with three wins, two draws and two losses in their last seven league outings.

The head-to-head history heavily favors the visitors. In their last meeting just under three months ago, Sheffield United delivered a commanding 3-0 home victory over Birmingham on Dec. 20.

The statistical projection service Interstat simulates a tightly contested affair, predicting a 1-1 draw.

For Sheffield United, this match is the first of a congested and challenging April schedule that includes a demanding mix of Championship fixtures and Premier League commitments, the latter due to their status as a club with a team in both divisions. They face a run of two games in three days on multiple occasions next month.

Birmingham City’s upcoming slate is exclusively Championship-focused, with a trip to Derby County next weekend followed by a series of matches against mid-table and playoff rivals.

Saturday’s result could prove crucial for both clubs’ aspirations. A win for Birmingham would build momentum and close the gap on the playoff places, while Sheffield United seeks to stabilize its form and consolidate its position in the promotion hunt before a daunting fixture pileup.

Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. local time (1400 GMT).