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The high-stakes clash with Huddersfield is as big as Wembley says Aitor Karanka.

But the Boro boss insists his side will go into the Riverside rumble buzzing with confidence.

Boro barged back into the promotion hotspots at the weekend as they put in a stirrings how to win 3-2 at in-form QPR while rivals Brighton and Burnley cancelled each other out in a 2-2 draw.

“I think the confidence is back,” said the Spanish head coach.

“In the last game we had good moments, we had bad moments when we conceded the goal and missed the penalty, but the team was still strong after these moments.

“So I am confident again. It is good for everybody.”

Read more What we learnt from Boro's win at QPR

There are eight games to go as the Championship title race comes to the boil, but Karanka says the focus is just one the next one.

“Every single game we need to win now,” he said. “We have to forget what the opponent is because we need three points every single game.

“Huddersfield is the biggest one we will have to play. For me Huddersfield is now as important as the game at Old Trafford or Wembley last season.

“They are another three massive points for us and every single game will be the same now until the end of the season. The only important thing is the next game. “

But he is warning against complacency against a Terriers team who are just eight points off the drop spot.

“This season when we have had fixtures we have felt were easier then we have made mistakes,” he said cautiously.

“The only way to fix those mistakes is to think about the following game. Huddersfield is the next game and we have to keep going.”

(Image: John Walton/PA Wire)

After back-to-back wins Boro are back in the title shake-up and Karanka insists that with the team getting back to their best they are real contenders.

“The best example is that the team is playing the way we played in January or October,” he said.

“Some people thought that we Middlesbrough had disappeared before the Hull game.

“Now you can tell that we are alive and in fact we are more than alive.”

Boro were in a similar position last season only to fade in the final furlong then lose at Wembley and the boss believes the club have learned from that - and are better placed.

“We had the experience of last season and that helps,” he explained.

“Last season we had to play the top teams but this season we have more preferred games.

“But we are more mature than last season, better than last season, so it is difficult going into the games knowing we should do well. We have to be careful and stay focused.”