Among them are Chelsea, who will be hoping to finally haul in Manchester United;

Bolton, attempting to bore their way to that fourth Champions League place; one of Everton, Tottenham, Portsmouth or Reading, all looking to show sufficient consistency to claim that second Uefa Cup position; and the previously damned Charlton and West Ham, who will be fighting to keep sight of salvation.

Of course, the equations that must be balanced in deciding the league's final result are a little more complex than those whose solutions are learned by rote come June.

Managers will have to negotiate invariables such as the fixture list, as well as variables such as injuries, mentality and form. And such has been the swing in the latter over the past few weeks that we could be in for one of the most exciting races since the Premiership began. It's conceivable that every decisive position in the table - bar Liverpool's third Champions League spot and Watford's literal foothold on the bottom - could be open to competition come the final day of the season.

Indeed, it's been eight years since the title race itself last went right down to it, Andy Cole coming off the bench against Tottenham to seal the first leg of Manchester United's treble. With Chelsea now vying for that same goal, such a dramatic denouement would seem apt. Whether we get it or not depends on which Manchester United side finish the season - the insipid bunch that lost at Portsmouth to allow Chelsea back in, or the Cristiano Ronaldo-fired team that rampaged past Roma with the bloody-mindedness of 1999.

Of course, while much has been made of United's performance on Tuesday apparently coming out of nowhere, it had something of a predecessor only a few weeks before, in that Paul Scholes-inspired steamrolling of Blackburn Rovers. Prior to that, they had been on the sort of relentless winning run Chelsea are now enjoying, suggesting it was the displays at both Stadio Olimpico and Fratton Park which represented the spikes in the chart. Should United at least perpetuate the momentum of that second leg, if not the frightening tempo, then there is little in their run-in which suggests they can be stopped.

Even those away games against Everton and Manchester City are matched by Chelsea's tricky local derbies at both a resurgent West Ham and Arsenal. As such, United could travel to that penultimate game at Stamford Bridge needing only a draw to seal their 16th title. Ferguson would relish the opportunity to patronisingly thank the Portuguese coach for his efforts minutes before the end, just as Mourinho did last year, except they could yet meet on a higher stage.

As to who joins them on that stage next season, while Liverpool have had the third Champions League spot secured for some time, Arsenal fans are starting to fidget. Yet, despite their current disillusion, nine points from 15 should be enough to see them over, a task that shouldn't be too taxing with Manchester City, Fulham and Portsmouth to come.

That will leave Bolton and one other occupying the Uefa Cup positions. The race for sixth has been the most peculiar so far in that no-one seems to want to win it. While Sam Allardyce's side pulled away to fifth thanks to a succession of wins recently, none of the sides below have even suggested they are capable of something similar. Everton, typically, have at least stuttered in a forward direction, while Easter weekend represented Portsmouth's season in microcosm - beating the team at the top only to then lose to the one at the bottom. Reading's early-season fire has thinned, which leaves only Tottenham.

No longer distracted by the Uefa Cup, and with a game in hand, Spurs should have the strength in depth to follow Bolton for another tilt at the Uefa Cup.

In doing so, they will also have a large say in the relegation battle, their run-in taking in Wigan today and Charlton on 7 May. Such is the high margin for error at the bottom that any side that can run up two or three wins out of five will give themselves considerable hope of staying up. And of the five still in threat of going down with Watford, only Charlton and West Ham look capable of doing that. With Fulham realistically needing only four points to be safe - a boost Lawrie Sanchez should bring - that leaves Wigan and Sheffield United teetering nervously. You can see the pressure is mounting when Neil Warnock, having spent the winter with a smile on his face, is back haranguing referees and calling other managers 'a disgrace' for their selections against him. A likely scenario is that, on the final day, the Blades will face a showdown at Wigan, while West Ham will be hoping for the favour they refused to grant Manchester United in 1995.

Of course, between now and then, it's about who keeps doing their homework.