As Newcastle sit at the top of the Championship on goal difference, Rafa Benitez's side remains one of the favourites to gain promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking.
However, a resurgent Huddersfield Town side lurks in third place ready to pounce on any mistake made, as they sit just six points behind Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion with a game in hand.
Although the destiny of automatic promotion remains in the hands of Rafa Benitez and Newcastle United, Benitez's side looks drained after a gruelling week of away fixtures which saw victories over both Brighton and Huddersfield as well as a draw against Reading.
Rafa Benitez may feel that he needs to make some changes to his starting line-up for the run-in which will give them the energy and impetus needed to ensure they gain promotion back to the Premier League.
FLW writer Elliott Wheat-Bowen looks at TWO Newcastle players Rafa Benitez must axe from the starting Newcastle XI for the Championship run-in....
Jack Colback
Even though Jack Colback has made 23 appearances for Newcastle in the Championship this season, Colback's performances have been far from noteworthy, especially at home.
Some Newcastle fans have called for Mo Diame to drop back into the deeper midfield position when playing at home which would free up space to play both Daryl Murphy and Dwight Gayle in a two striker formation.
Similarly, the Isaac Hayden's ankle injury which required surgery has seen Jack Colback's competition in that deep-lying midfield position temporarily disappear.
Considering a lot of Newcastle's early season success was based on the strong foundation in midfield of Jonjo Shelvey and Isaac Hayden, it is expected once Hayden returns from injury, the former Arsenal midfielder will slot back into the deep-lying midfield position alongside Jonjo Shelvey.
Either as a means of re-introducing Isaac Hayden into the starting line-up or to make a formational switch to be more positive at home, Jack Colback must be axed from the starting Newcastle line-up for the Championship run-in.
Paul Dummett
After breaking through into Newcastle United's first-team line-up during the 2015/15 season, Dummett has been Newcastle United's first choice left-back.
However, this season, the 25-year-old defender has made some glaring errors which in the run-in could potentially prove costly in Newcastle United's bid to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking.
Despite being ever-present having featured in all but one of Newcastle's Championship games this season, Rafa Benitez has shown that he is more than willing to rotate his other full-back spot.
The return of Vurnon Anita who is the more defensive option at right-back saw one of Newcastle United's most consistent performers DeAndre Yedlin drop to the bench.
However, with Vurnon Anita's versatility, the Dutch utility man provides Rafa Benitez with another option as he is more than comfortable playing at left-back.
If Benitez was to axe Paul Dummett from the starting line-up for the Championship run-in, it could allow the more reliable pairing of Vurnon Anita and DeAndre Yedlin to play in the full-back spots.