Town defender Christophe Berra believes the current Championship campaign could be remembered as one of the most competitive of all time.
In a congested top six there is little separating the candidates for automatic promotion. Leaders Middlesbrough are a mere one point ahead of their closest rivals, Derby and Bournemouth, and Mick McCarthy’s men are only a further two points adrift, one ahead of Watford and four better off than Norwich.
Scotland international Berra, 30, said: "It doesn’t look as if anyone is going to run away with it the way Leicester did last season.
"You could look from the top of the league down to Norwich in sixth place because all six clubs are only separated by seven points and they will all feel they have a chance of winning the league.
"Then you’ve got a couple of teams just below the top six and they will be aiming for the play-offs at least.
"I think it could be one of the most competitive seasons for a long time because there are so many teams up there looking for the two automatic promotion places. Hopefully we’ll still be up there in the mix with just two or three games to go.”
Berra acknowledged the importance of successive 2-1 wins over Sheffield Wednesday and Fulham as Town recovered well from a dip in form that had seen them win just once in five league outings, collecting only four points from a possible 15.
But the ex-Wolves player knows better than to underestimate Reading, the visitors to Portman Road tomorrow, after their shock 1-0 home defeat to struggling Wigan in midweek.
He added: "There are still 15 games left, which means 45 points to play for, and we all know this league can be a bit funny at times.
"Reading might even be thinking they could still get in the play-offs or if not they will be looking towards next season and planning to be more positive and stronger then. If you look through their squad it’s very strong.
"You could get teams at the bottom end going on five or six-game unbeaten runs and others near the top might go on a run where they can’t win.
"Next thing you know you’ve got seven or eight games to go and you’re three points off the relegation zone or three points off the play-offs.
"You can’t take your foot off the pedal in this league and I’m sure all the managers in this league are very professional and won’t allow their players to take their eye off the ball.
"It was good to get back to winning ways and others results in midweek have gone for us. Now we are looking forward to two home games but they won’t be easy.
"Reading have a new manager and a good squad of players so we know we will have to be on top form to get all three points from them.”