Cardiff City have climbed up to within two points of the Championship play-off spots following their hard-fought 2-0 victory over Barnsley on Saturday afternoon.

Neil Harris' men were somewhat ineffective during the opening period, but two quick-fire goals from Will Vaulks and Callum Paterson put the Bluebirds in the driving seat during the second half as they eventually saw out a comfortable win at Oakwell.

The result means Cardiff are now sitting ninth in the Championship table as they remain firmly in the hunt for a top-six spot, with the south Wales outfit now preparing to welcome league leaders Leeds United this weekend in a serious test of their credentials.

Here, we take a look at three factors which could determine Cardiff's success during the rest of the season...

Their ability to be effective for the full 90 minutes

Cardiff's overall performance at Oakwell was a prime example in how they have sometimes lacked intensity from the very start of matches this season, with Harris' men usually taking a while to warm up before they enter their most effective stride.

This did not prove to be a huge problem against Barnsley as their opponents lacked the incision to take advantage of Cardiff's slow start, but it would certainly become more of an issue against the stronger teams in the league, such as Leeds.

Harris must ensure his Cardiff side are prepared to play at their best from the very start of matches, and the Bluebirds could be set for a highly productive end to the season if they are able to perform for the full 90 minutes of their last nine outings.

The availability of Lee Tomlin

Tomlin has provided the creative spark for Cardiff spark during much of the season so far, but the Bluebirds have needed to cope without their talisman during the last four matches as a result of the midfielder suffering a knee injury back in February.

It was announced the 31-year-old would be sidelined for six to eight weeks while he recovers from the problem, with this meaning he is out for much of the rest of the season as Cardiff must learn to break down opponents' defences without his influence.

However, there is still a chance that Tomlin could feature for Cardiff during the final few matches of the campaign, and his potential return to the side could prove to be the difference in his side's play-off push given the quality he brings to the team.

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The fans' backing of the team

Cardiff supporters have had every reason to feel somewhat underwhelmed with certain aspects of their side's season, but the fact of the matter is that the Bluebirds now find themselves in firm play-off contention with nine games still to play this term.

This means the Cardiff fanbase needs to play its part in helping propel Harris' men towards success in the final matches, particularly given the passion and unbridled energy that Bluebirds supporters have shown they are capable of delivering over the years.

The atmosphere has seemed slightly hollow at the Cardiff City Stadium at times during the current campaign, but this should not be the case during the rest of the term and particularly when the Bluebirds welcome Leeds to the Welsh capital this weekend.