It's the pitch rather than the teams that has attracted most attention but Boro will be looking to put concerns about the surface to one side and produce another winning display at Bloomfield Road.
With Bournemouth and Derby going head-to-head tonight, the visit to the basement boys is a huge opportunity for Boro who know a win will take them into the top two.
Blackpool have only lost one of their last six home matches but were thumped 4-0 at Norwich at the weekend.
Here's all you need to know ahead of the match in our in-depth match preview:
Probable line-ups
Injury news
Aitor Karanka has no new injury worries ahead of tonight’s trip to Blackpool, and welcomes Daniel Ayala back into the first-team fold.
The defender has served his two-match suspension and is back in contention, but Mustapha Carayol won’t be involved as he continues to work on his fitness with the Under-21s.
Damia Abella (cruciate) and Rhys Williams (Achilles) are long-term absentees.
Blackpool hope Steven Davies will shake off a groin injury in time, but Grant Hall (ankle) misses out.
The thoughts of the boss
“It could be our biggest mistake to go to Blackpool thinking it will be an easy game.
“We suffered in our game against them here at Middlesbrough and now they have changed a lot of players.
“They need to fight for the points because they need the points to save their place in the division and we have to go there thinking it is going to be a very difficult game on a very difficult pitch, but we have to win.
“I was analysing their games and the pitch is awful but to me it is not an excuse, if we lose the game I am not going to say we lost the game because the pitch was bad.
“The players are ready, and they know exactly what kind of pitch they are going to find to play on. All of them are ready to play on that surface.
“My only concern is if we get some injuries.”
Opposition's view
Manager Lee Clark believes tonight’s match with Boro is the club’s “Champions League final” as they pull off the great escape.
“We are two different teams home and away,” Clark told the club’s website.
Action Images / Paul Burrows 
Blackpool manager Lee Clark
“We’ve kept two clean sheets on the bounce in our last two home games and conceded 11 goals in our last two away games, so that tells you.
“We’ve taken 11 points from five games at home, so we’re a different animal at home.
“These two home games (against Boro and Nottingham Forest) are our Champions League final and World Cup final.”
Their man in the know - William Watt, Blackpool Gazette
“It’s been a nightmare season for Blackpool so far and the results haven’t been a surprise to anybody.
“The match at Boro (1-1 draw) was probably the team’s best performance of the season.
“Under Jose Riga, they won one game all season but they have won three since Lee Clark came in. They’ve enjoyed better home form since he arrived, winning the last two.
"After the last home game there were 1,000 fans outside protesting. It’s hard to believe they were in the Premier League only four years ago."
Who's the dangerman?
He may be only 20 years old but Blackpool’s fortunes this season could hinge on young Joe Rothwell’s shoulders.
The Manchester United loanee moved to Bloomfield Road last month, having enjoyed a period training with Louis Van Gaal’s first-team at Old Trafford.
Action Images 
Blackpool's Joe Rothwell in action against Norwich
Rothwell impressed off the bench at Norwich, and Lee Clark is expected to hand him a first Blackpool start in tonight’s showdown with Boro.
The highly-rated youngster could start in the No 10 role behind striker Steven Davies, and is one that Boro’s defenders must keep an eye on tonight.
What's the form?
Saturday's win over Charlton was Boro’s fifth straight victory in all competitions and ensures victory at Blackpool tonight will see them leapfrog Derby, Bournemouth, or possibly even both.
As the Cherries face Steve McClaren’s Rams on the South Coast, Boro will be looking to extend their unbeaten run to nine matches.
Aitor Karanka’s promotion-chasing side have not conceded a goal in their last five away matches and haven’t lost a match since December 20, a 2-0 reverse at Ipswich Town.
Boro’s strikers have also rediscovered their goalscoring touch recently, with the team netting 10 times in their last five outings.
Attacking quartet Patrick Bamford, Lee Tomlin, Jelle Vossen and Kike Garcia have all scored in the last fortnight, with Boro finding the net in each of their last five matches.
The battle for Championship survival is proving a tough one for Blackpool and relegation to League One looks to be a near formality.
The beleaguered Tangerines have won three of their last 16 matches in all competitions since Geordie gaffer Lee Clark took charge.
But it’s not all doom and gloom at Bloomfield Road with Blackpool having won their last two home matches over Millwall and Brighton, both ending 1-0.
At home Blackpool look a decent side having lost only one of their last six - that being a 6-1 humbling against Bournemouth.
But goals remain a problem with Clark’s men finding the net six times in their last nine.
BORO’S LAST FIVE
Feb 7 (h) CHARLTON W 3-1
Jan 31 (a) BRENTFORD W 1-0
Jan 24 (a) MAN CITY W 2-0 FAC
Jan 20 (h) CARDIFF W 2-1
Jan 17 (h) H’FIELD W 2-0
Last five aways: 1-0, 2-0, 0-0, 2-0, 0-0
BLACKPOOL’S LAST FIVE
Feb 7 (a) NORWICH L 0-4
Jan 31 (h) BRIGHTON W 1-0
Jan 24 (a) WATFORD L 2-7
Jan 17 (a) WOLVES L 0-2
Jan 10 (h) MILLWALL W 1-0
Last five homes: 1-0. 1-0, 1-1, 1-6, 1-0
Players who have worn both shirts
The following played for both Boro and Blackpool: Sammy Armes, Ian Bailey, Micky Burns, Jacky Carr, Mitch Cook, Jason Euell, Dean Gordon, Danny Graham, Fred Griffiths, Phil Gulliver, Allan Hall, Faris Haroun, Mark Hudson, Brad Jones, Arthur Kaye, Jimmy McClelland, Tony McMahon, Malaury Martin (pictured with Lukas Jutkiewicz), Ishmael Miller, Isaiah Osbourne, Graeme Owens, Gary Parkinson, Andy Payton, Fred Pentland, Malcolm Smith, Bobby Thomson, Alan Wright.
Other connections: Wilf Gillow, Steve Harrison, Paul Ince, George Shipley
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