Intriguing and unpredictable.
You'd have to be brave to have a punt at how this year's Championship table will look come the start of May.
In fact, it's hard enough trying to predict how it will look after this weekend's round of results.
By the time Boro's players have hopped aboard their coach - or flight - back to Teesside mid-afternoon on Saturday they could be topping the table yet they could have slipped to fifth.
If it's the latter they could then drop another place should Ipswich beat Wigan on home turf, as you'd expect.
But let's not get ourselves too wound up before a ball has even been kicked as the Championship swings back into action following a break for the majority of teams for the FA Cup.
It's tight and competitive. We shouldn't be surprised, it's the nature of the Championship.
But while 19 points separated runaway leaders Leicester and sixth place Reading this time last year, just four separate top of the table Bournemouth and Watford, who occupy the final play-off place, this time around.
Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe
Ironically enough, those two sides, both in a rich vein of form, kick-off this weekend's fixtures on Friday night.
The Cherries will be looking to put last weekend's cup disappointment behind them and can send out a message to their promotion chasing rivals with a victory over Watford, fresh from smashing 7 (seven) past basement boys Blackpool last time out.
Should Bournemouth pick up all the points, Boro will head for Griffin Park on Saturday lunchtime four points off top spot.
The need for three points against high-flying Brentford will be emphasised.
But the Bees will approach the clash with Boro in exactly the same manner. Mark Warburton's men have won three on the bounce and their mind-set will quickly be changing from delight at how the season has panned out to focus on a top two spot come the end of the season, they are just two points off the summit after all.
However, the Hornets will view Friday night's trip to the Goldsands as a big opportunity. Three points there and they'll leapfrog Ipswich, Brentford and Boro into third place, at least temporarily.
A point would go down a treat from a Boro point of view.
Aitor Karanka
Should Bournemouth fail to take maximum points, Aitor Karanka will send his side out at Griffin Park knowing a win would take them top of the table.
With Derby facing a potentially tricky tie at Cardiff (that's what I'm trying to convince myself it is), Boro could well end the weekend in top spot.
But Steve McClaren's side are frustratingly efficient while Russell Slade's under-performing Bluebirds are anything but.
The Rams are one point and one goal better off than Boro in the Championship standings and regardless of Bournemouth's result, they'll head to the Cardiff City Stadium confident of piling even more pressure on under-fire Slade.
So where does that leave Ipswich?
If Watford win at Bournemouth and Boro slip up at Brentford, the Tractor Boys will kick-off at 3pm on Saturday having dropped to sixth in the table.
Brentford Manager Mark Warburton
But Mick McCarthy's side are ruthless on home turf; of all of the ties facing top six sides this weekend Ipswich is the one game that could be deemed a gimmie.
Wigan are not only in the mire at the bottom, they're also in the middle of an apparent quick-fire sale of all of their assets.
Anything less than a win for Ipswich would be deemed as points dropped.
Wolves head to Bolton with Neil Lennon undoubtedly ready to fire up his troops following the no-show at Rotherham midweek while Norwich face a testing trip to Birmingham.
AK and his players won't need any reminding of the importance of the game at Brentford. It was already at the forefront of the gaffer's thoughts in the immediate aftermath of that stunning display at the Etihad last weekend.
A draw on Friday night, a Boro win and surprising slip-ups for Derby and Ipswich. Now wouldn't that be nice!
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