Jewell keen to wrap up title at Huddersfield

Paul Jewell's determination to clinch the Second Division title with his already-promoted Wigan side is not good news for relegation-threatened Huddersfield Town, who can expect an influx of fans looking to launch a championship party at the McAlpine Stadium today.

"Having worked very hard to get to this position, I want a strong finish to the season," Jewell said. "There will be a lot of fans going to Huddersfield expecting us to put on a show. It is a massive game and we won't let standards slip."

The race for second place looks to be between Crewe and Cardiff. Intriguingly, the pair are due to meet on the last day of the season but in the meantime Dario Gradi's side have gained an advantage despite being held to a 1-1 draw by fourth-placed Bristol City at home on Tuesday.

Gradi was disappointed by his side's performance against the LDV Trophy winners but Cardiff's defeat at Peterborough the following evening left Crewe with a two-point advantage. Their leading scorer Rob Hulse is likely to make his comeback from injury at home to Swindon today after being asked to bide his time on the bench in recent matches but Gradi has both regular full-backs injured.

Cardiff face the tougher run-in with games against Bristol City, Wigan and Crewe after Colchester visit Ninian Park today. Bristol City look the likeliest beneficiaries should the Bluebirds lose their way, with manager Lennie Lawrence likely to wield the axe if his side fails to go up.

Should they clinch a place in the First Division, however, and if plans for a new stadium earn the go-ahead, the Cardiff owner Sam Hammam will make funds available to finance a push for the Premiership at the first attempt.

Lawrence is trying to keep his players' focus on today's match by banning all talk about the Crewe game on 3 May. "I don't want to hear it because if we don't beat Colchester we may be out of it by the time we go to Crewe," he said.

The Third Division leaders Hartlepool, who end their season away to second-placed Rushden, need one point from their trip to Scunthorpe to ensure automatic promotion, while a draw at Carlisle will effectively produce the same outcome for Rushden.