How Leeds United's next three games compare to Sunderland, Burnley and Sheffield United

It may be a 46 game season in which all 24 teams in the Championship have to play each other twice, but that doesn't mean some periods of the campaign are not easier or harder than others. Ahead of the next international break, the Championship will cram in three rounds of fixtures inside a week and that means an opportunity to pick up nine precious points.

While it feels like the season is still in its infancy, come the start of the international break we will have reached 15 games with a third of the season effectively gone. There's a big week ahead and much has been made it seems of Leeds United's favourable run of games, but it's not the easiest run over the next week.

Taking into account the current league position of each club before the matchday 13 fixtures started, we looked at the ranking of each side to calculate just who has the easiest run of he current top four.

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Leeds United begin their three-game run with a home match against Plymouth Argyle (21), before travelling for a midweek test at Millwall (10). They then head into the international break with another game at Elland Road, this time against Queens Park Rangers (23). It means Leeds face opponents with an average of 18th in the table in the next three games.

On paper it looks a favourable run, but it's beaten by that of Championship leaders Sunderland. The Black Cats start away at QPR (23) today, before a game at Preston North End (16) and then a home match with Coventry City (18). It gives Regis Le Bris' side an average opponent of 19th, and effectively an easier run of matches to try and cement their place at the top of the table.

Second-placed Burnley and fourth-placed Sheffield United both face a run of games with an average opponent of 10th in the table, giving them a much tougher test on paper.

Burnley take on Millwal (10) away, West Brom (5) away and Swansea City (17) at home, while the Blades face Blackburn Rovers (6) away, Bristol City (11) away and Sheffield Wednesday (13) at home, in what appears to be the toughest run of all.