X Factor stars Jedward are just 24 sales behind this week's number one, Owl City's 'Fireflies', according to the midweek charts.

The Irish twins' song 'Under Pressure (Ice Ice Baby)' featuring Vanilla Ice was released as a download on Sunday ahead of its physical release on February 15th.

The cheesy track is essentially a mash-up of David Bowie and Freddie Mercury's 'Under Pressure' and the 1990 song it inspired, Vanilla Ice's 'Ice Ice Baby'.

According to Official Charts Company figures, quoted by Music Week today, the two-dozen sales lead from Owl City proves it will be a closely fought battle for the singles chart number one on Sunday.

Jedward - full name John and Edward Grimes - have been on a promotional blitzkrieg in recent weeks including performing at the National Television Awards and being interviewed on GMTV and Jonathan Ross.

If they secure the top spot they will be the first act from X Factor 2009 to shoot straight to number one after Joe McElderry's 'The Climb' was famous held from the Christmas top spot by Rage Against The Machine's 'Killing In The Name'.

(by Scott Colothan)