MIDDLESBROUGH must beat Southampton in their penultimate Championship fixture tonight to keep their hopes of a play-off place alive.

Cardiff's 1-1 draw with Leeds earlier today means the Teessiders can still finish in the top six.

However, only a win will be good enough against a Saints side needing a victory to guarantee automatic promotion to the Premier League.

Tony Mowbray has made two changes to the side that drew with Doncaster on Tuesday, with Faris Haroun and Merouane Zemmama returning to the midfield.

The pair replace Marvin Emnes, who has a knee injury, and Julio Arca, who became a father in the early hours of the morning.

There is a surprise return on the substitutes' bench for long-time absentee Rhys Williams.

MIDDLESBROUGH (4-4-2): Steele; McMahon, Hines, McManus, Hoyte; Robson, Bailey, Haroun, Zemmama; Jutkiewicz, McDonald.

Subs: Bennett, R Williams, Hammill, Ogbeche, Main.

SOUTHAMPTON (4-4-2): Davis; Fonte, Butterfield, Hooiveld, Fox; Chaplow, Hammond, Cork, Lallana; Lambert, Sharp.

Subs: Bialkowski (gk), Harding, Schneiderlin, Do Prado, Martin.