THE race for top spot enters its critical phase this weekend, with Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren tipping Chelsea's current winning run to take them all the way to the Premiership title.

McClaren takes his injury-ravaged Boro squad to Stamford Bridge this afternoon to face a Chelsea side who have won seven of their last nine games in all competitions.

The last of those victories saw Claudio Ranieri's side knock Arsenal out of the Champions League and, while the Gunners re-established a seven-point lead in the Premiership with yesterday's 4-2 win over Liverpool, Chelsea have assumed a psychological edge in the race for domestic silverware.

Boro are desperate to halt Chelsea's title charge after dominating the game between the two sides at the Riverside this season, only to lose to Hernan Crespo's last-gasp winner.

But McClaren admits it will not be easy to derail a run that has seen Chelsea sweep all before them since the turn of the year.

"What Chelsea and Arsenal have done, but Manchester United haven't, is put themselves in contention," said McClaren.

"The true test comes now. The momentum is with Chelsea. They are winning football matches and it's always better coming from behind.

"They have a big squad, they look like they can cope with the run in and they have got a lot of energy.

"They can't afford to lose another game - but what's good for them is that they don't look like losing one."

Middlesbrough's task has been made all the more difficult by the injury crisis that has swept through the club this week.

Long-term absentees Andrew Davies, Malcolm Christie and Carlo Nash have been joined on the injury list by Brazilian midfielder Doriva, striker Joseph-Desire Job and skipper Gareth Southgate.

Bolo Zenden is unable to play against his parent club while, to compound McClaren's defensive problems, Ugo Ehiogu, Chris Riggott and Danny Mills are all doubtful.

Colin Cooper is almost certain to start at centre-half after being recalled from his loan spell at Sunderland on Tuesday, while Franck Queudrue is likely to play at left-back despite only returning to training on Thursday.

"I'm struggling for a back four at the moment," admitted McClaren. "Whenever you are playing a big game you want your best 11 available.

"We relish the challenge though and you just have to look at the Champions League this week to see what's possible - it was full of surprises.

"We always seem to do well against the top teams in the league and we were unlucky to lose against Chelsea earlier this season.

"The pressure is on Chelsea because they know they can't lose another game. But I don't expect their performances in the Champions League to distract them from the Premiership. They've got a massive squad of players and it doesn't seem to have affected them in the past."

McClaren's future has come under increasing scrutiny since he led Middlesbrough to Carling Cup success in February.

The former Manchester United assistant has been linked with a range of possible jobs in the summer and, until last month, he was being hotly tipped to join current England boss Sven Goran Eriksson at Chelsea next season.

That move looks increasingly unlikely after Eriksson pledged his long-term future to the national team but, with McClaren having just two more years to run on his current Boro contract, his future remains far from clear.

McClaren's opposite number this afternoon is no stranger to uncertainty as, despite leading Chelsea to the most successful season of their recent history, Claudio Ranieri still finds his position challenged on a daily basis.

The Italian has won a lot of friends for the dignified way in which he has conducted himself in recent weeks, but McClaren feels that media speculation is part and parcel of any manager's job.

"All football managers are under pressure, whether that be Chelsea, Middlesbrough or Arsenal," said McClaren. "Managers are always speculated about, but the main pressure is always felt on the field.

"Claudio Ranieri has handled things off the field with humility and dignity.

"On the field he has got a fantastic side, but it will be the end of the season when all managers will be judged. What I would say is that, at the moment, he's got them in a great position."

Read more about Middlesbrough here.