The Championship season is heading towards its grand Wembley finale this weekend, with Huddersfield Town taking on Steve Cooper's Nottingham Forest for a place in the Premier League.
Cooper, having been involved in the play-offs twice before with Swansea City, will be hoping to make it third time lucky against the Terriers and end Forest's 23-year exile from the Premier League in the process. But while eyes will be on the home of English football come Sunday afternoon, the rest of the league have already begun preparations for the new campaign.
Cardiff City have accelerated their summer plans, snapping up four new signings already. Swansea haven't yet followed suit, but are nevertheless expected to be a busy this summer.
The full Championship line-up hasn't yet been confirmed, of course, although we do now know the three Premier League sides that will join the others in the second tier next term. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the trio are already among the early favourites to claim the league title this time next year.
According to SkyBet, Watford are the team to beat, with the Hornets priced at 7/1. Fellow relegated side Norwich City are second favourites at 8/1, while West Bromwich Albion (9/1), Sheffield United (10/1) and Burnley (12/1) are all tipped to be there or thereabouts come the end of the season.
Swansea are priced at 18/1, just outside the top six, while Cardiff are one of several sides coming in at 25/1.
So the Swans are expected to push for the play-offs, according to the bookies, whereas Cardiff are tipped for a comfortable mid-table spot amid their rebuild under Steve Morison.
At the other end, Rotherham United have been given a price of 66/1, placing them at the bottom of the pile, while Reading, Preston and Bristol City are all at 40/1.
Odds in full:
Watford 7/1
Norwich 8/1
West Brom 9/1
Sheffield Utd 10/1
Burnley 12/1
Middlesbrough 12/1
Swansea 18/1
Stoke 20/1
Sunderland 20/1
Hull 22/1
Blackburn 25/1
Cardiff 25/1
Coventry 25/1
Luton 25/1
QPR 25/1
Millwall 28/1
Wigan 28/1
Birmingham 33/1
Blackpool 33/1
Bristol City 40/1
Preston 40/1
Reading 40/1
Rotherham 66/1
(Odds courtesy of SkyBet and correct at time of publishing)
