Boro travel to Bramall Lane on Wednesday as Michael Carrick's men aim to complete a league double over Sheffield United.
Ahead of the clash with the Blades, here is a closer look at our opponents.
The background
Sheffield United were relegated from the Premier League last season but have adapted well to life back in the second tier.
The Blades sit second in the Sky Bet Championship heading into the final 15 league matches of the campaign, just two points behind leaders Leeds United.
They did not taste defeat until their 10th game of the season and they are now on a run of five wins from six.
United's most recent league outing saw them defeat Portsmouth 2-1 on Saturday, with Jesurun Rak-Sakyi notching their second half winner.
The boss
Chris Wilder is in his second spell in charge of the Blades, and he is targeting a third promotion with his hometown club.
Wilder led United to two promotions in three years in his first stint, taking the club from League One to the Premier League.
He was in the Boro hotseat between November 2021 and October 2022 and later had a short stay at Watford before being reappointed at Bramall Lane in December 2023.
Prior to his first spell at Sheffield United, Wilder had led Alfreton Town, Halifax Town, Oxford United and Northampton Town.
Key players
Former Coventry City midfielder Gus Hamer is arguably the Blades' most creative force, having scored seven goals and assisted five more in the league this season.
A productive January window saw them bolster their frontline with the additions of Tom Cannon - the scorer of nine league goals on loan at Stoke City earlier in the campaign - and Ben Brereton-Diaz on loan from Southampton.
Experienced frontman Kieffer Moore adds to United's attacking options, while Callum O'Hare has proved crucial in midfield since his arrival last summer.
Further back, goalkeeper Michael Cooper has impressed after joining from Plymouth Argyle in the summer of 2024, while Anel Ahmedhodzic and Jack Robinson are among those to provide solidity in the defence.
Past meetings
The reverse fixture was won 1-0 by Boro in October.
Boro were also victorious on their last visit to Bramall Lane, with two goals from Cameron Archer and one from Chuba Akpom sealing a 3-1 win in February 2023.