Crystal Palace lead south London's three-pronged Championship charge

Glenn Murray is the Eagles' top scorer this season

Christian Crowther assesses the credentials of top-six contenders Crystal Palace, Millwall and Charlton ahead of some big derby clashes...

London's south-of-the-Thames clubs are used to playing second fiddle to their more illustrious north bank neighbours, though all three are currently mounting impressive bids to join them in the top flight. 

Despite a managerial switch, Crystal Palace have led the way in this trio of capital clubs, putting together a miraculous run of 14 games unbeaten in a league where consistency normally comes in small packages.

That run may have recently been ended by the unlikely source of Leeds, but Ian Holloway's side - just one point off Cardiff at the summit - look every bit a strong promotion challenger and even potential winners.

Any team which can execute an unbeaten run of that magnitude, in possibly the most competitive league in the world, should be in with a good chance of gaining promotion out of it.

The Eagles can be backed at 7.87/1 to be crowned the division's champions come May. 

This weekend Palace - now two games without a win - face a real grudge match against another side on a decent unbeaten run in rivals Brighton.    

The Seagulls are seven-unbeaten themselves and currently lie just one point off sixth, though Gus Poyet's side have drawn four in that spell. 

A penalty apiece ensured a draw in this fixture last season, though the Eagles ran out comfortable 3-1 winners at the Amex and are priced at 2.35/4 to beat them again on Saturday at Selhurst Park. 

If Palace have encountered a minute hiccup in form, the same cannot be said for Kenny Jackett's rampaging Lions. 

Millwall are the form team in the Championship, piecing together four straight wins off the back of what was already an eight-game unbeaten spell which turned up three further victories.

Jackett has got Millwall playing with supreme confidence, with signings such as Andy Keogh and loanee Chris Wood helping to fire them into fifth place. 

The Lions can likely be matched at around 3.9n/a to end the season in one of the coveted top-six spots. 

Their more immediate concern however, will be Saturday's local tussle with fellow Championship flyers Charlton.

Under Chris Powell, the Addicks struggled to adapt to Championship life at first but have recently mounted a fine surge of their own.

They have gone five unbeaten, winning four and now find themselves pushed into the promotion picture - just five points off the play-off pace in a tight mid-table cluster.

Unsurprisingly, Millwall will start as favourites to win at 2.0811/10, though given their recent win over Cardiff, backing a Charlton win at 3.7511/4 will hold appeal.