Here is the second in a four-part preview of the runners and riders in this season's Championship.

This time we turn our attentions to Derby, Hull, Ipswich, Leeds, Leicester and Luton.

Will they be battling relegation? Challenging for promotion? Take a look at our preview and decide for yourselves...

DERBY COUNTY

Home: Pride Park Capacity: 33,597

Manager: Phil Brown

Last season: 4th

QPR Fixtures: Pride Park: Oct 29; Loftus Road: Apr 15

Superhoopsbet.co.uk odds:
Champions: 20/1; relegated: 12/1

Players in: Marc Edworthy (Norwich, free)

Players out: Ian Taylor (Northampton, free), Tom Huddlestone (Tottenham, £2.5 million), Junior (Watford, free), Marco Reich (release)

Just what is happening at Pride Park? After a brilliant recovery from near-relegation in 2004, the rise to play-off contention was followed by the acrimonious departure of manager George Burley and the threat of a raft of key departures. Plenty of talent on show but will it still be in place come September? Could finish absolutely anywhere, so....

Editor's prediction: Slap-bang middle

HULL CITY

Home: KC Stadium Capacity: 30,000

Manager: Peter Taylor

Last season: 2nd, League One

QPR Fixtures: KC: Aug 6; Loftus Road: Apr 15

Superhoopsbet.co.uk odds
Champions: 20/1; relegated: 25/1

Players in: Danny Coles (Bristol City, £200,000), Curtis Woodhouse (Peterborough, £ 25000), Steven McPhee (Beira Mar, £220,000), Keith Andrews (Wolves, free) Mark Lynch (Sunderland, free) Sergio Leite (Charlton, free)

Players out: Clayton Donaldson (York City, free), Jonathan Walters (Wrexham, free), Aaron Wilbraham (Milton Keynes, free)

Two consecutive promotions, massive crowds, a highly respected manager - just when will the Hull bubble burst? Promotion once again is unlikely but with a decent start there is no reason to believe they can't give the play-offs a crack. There are enough experienced players at the KC to give it a real shot.

Editor's prediction: Top 10 at least

IPSWICH TOWN

Home: Portman Road Capacity: 30,300

Manager: Joe Royle

Last season: 3rd

QPR Fixtures: Loftus Road: Aug 9; Portman Road: Dec 10

Superhoopsbet.co.uk odds:
Champions: 14/1; relegated: 18/1

Players in: Nick Forster (Reading, free), Sam Parkin (Swindon, undisclosed), Dean McDonald (Arsenal, free)

Players out: Tommy Miller (Sunderland, free), Shefki Kuqi (Blackburn, free), James Scowcroft (Coventry, free), Darren Bent (Charlton, £2.5m), Kelvin Davis (Sunderland £ 1.25m)

No team in England has suffered greater play-off heartache than Ipswich and with the loss of so many key players to the Premiership it is questionable whether they can lift themselves for another challenge. Joe Royle is as canny as they get but the division has improved while Town have deteriorated.

Editor's prediction: Mid table

LEEDS UNITED

Home: Elland Road Capacity: 40,204

Manager: Kevin Blackwell

Last season: 14th

QPR Fixtures: Loftus Road: Sep 17; Elland Road: Feb 4

Superhoopsbet.co.uk odds:
Champions: 10/1; relegated: 20/1

Players in: Eddie Lewis (Preston, free), Steve Stone (Portsmouth, free), Robbie Blake (Birmingham, £ 800,000), Rob Hulse (West Brom £1.1m) Ian Bennett (Birmingham, free)

Players out: Simon Johnson (Darlington, free), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham, undisclosed), Martin Woods (Sunderland,free),
Julian Joachim (Boston Utd, free), Sean McDaid (Doncaster, free) Lucas Radebe (released)

Having stopped the rot by avoiding the plummet in to oblivion predicted by many, Leeds have added further quality to their squad and must be considered genuine play-off prospects. Robbie Blake is an excellent Championship player and Steve Stone's experience will add quality to the mix. Promotion cannot be ruled out.

Editor's prediction: Top six

LEICESTER CITY

Home: Walkers Stadium Capacity: 32,500

Manager: Craig Levein

Last season: 15th

QPR Fixtures: Walkers Stadium: Sep 24; Loftus Road: Jan 31

Superhoopsbet.co.uk odds:
Champions: 16/1; relegated: 16/1

Players in: Nils-Eric Johansson (Blackburn, free), Peter Gilbert (Plymouth, £ 200,000) Paul Henderson (Bradford, free)
Morno Sylla (Celtic, free) Rab Douglas (Celtic, free)

Players out: Jordan Stewart (Watford, £125,000) Matt Heath (Coventry, undisclosed), Ian Walker (Bolton, free), Lilian Nalis (Sheff Utd, free)

Craig Levein spent much of last season pruning an ageing squad and having all but expected to go straight back up this time last year, the Foxes faithful's expectations will be considerably lower this time around. Improvements towards the end of 04-05 suggest they will be closer to the top than the bottom but the play-offs may be too much to ask.

Editor's prediction: Top half

LUTON TOWN

Home: Kenilworth Road Capacity: 9,975

Manager: Mike Newell

Last season: 1st, League One

QPR Fixtures: Loftus Road: Sep 13; Kenilworth Road: Jan 21

Superhoopsbet.co.uk odds:
Champions: 66/1; relegated: 4/1

Players in: Rowan Vine (Portsmouth £250,000), Markus Heikkinen (Aberdeen, free) Dean Morgan (Reading, free), Carlos Edwards (Wrexham, undisclosed)

Players out: Dave Bayliss (Wrexham, free), Emmerson Boyce (C Palace, free), Lee Mansell (Oxford, free)

In a competitive division, Luton were somewhat surprising League One champions and much of that is down to the canny management of Mike Newell. A couple of decent signings will boost their chances of survival but the odds are against them doing anything more than just enough. With luck, they will live to fight another season

Editor's prediction: Survival - just

So that's six more of Rangers' rivals assessed - part three to follow shortly!

Part One: Brighton - Crystal Palace