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Preview: Queens Park Rangers vs. Sheffield Wednesday

Sports Mole previews the Championship opener between Queens Park Rangers and Sheffield Wednesday at Loftus Road.

Queens Park Rangers begin their quest to return to the Premier League when they host Sheffield Wednesday in their Championship season opener on Saturday.

Harry Redknapp's side were relegated last season despite spending big to try to maintain their top-flight status, but several of their star names are unlikely to feature against Wednesday at Loftus Road.

Loic Remy, Julio Cesar and Joey Barton could all sit out as they await moves away from the club, but striker Charlie Austin is expected to make his Hoops debut after arriving in a £4m switch from Burnley.

Fellow summer arrivals Richard Dunne and Danny Simpson are in contention to start in defence, while former Wolverhampton Wanderers captain Karl Henry is in the squad but may have to settle for a place on the bench.

Owls boss David Jones could start versatile left-sided player Jeremy Helan, signed from Manchester City, and former Tottenham Hotspur youngster Jacques Maghoma.

However, the game may have come too early for ex-Hull City centre-back Kamil Zayatte, who completed his move to Hillsborough only on Friday.

The visitors finished 18th in the Championship last season, and retaining the services of top goalscorer Michail Antonio may have been Jones's best piece of summer business.

He is almost certain to start in midfield, but Lewis Buxton and Kieran Lee are unavailable with shin and hip injuries respectively.

Possible lineups:

QPR: Green; Simpson, Dunne, Hill, Traore; Wright-Phillips, Jenas, Mbia, Hoilett; Zamora, Austin

Wednesday: Kirkland; Reda Johnson, Gardner, Taylor, Llera; Antonio, Jermaine Johnson, Maghoma, Prutton, Helan; Madine

Sports Mole says: 2-0


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Sheffield Wednesday's Michail Antonio tries to get past Crystal Palace's Ashley Richards on February 23, 2013
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Tables header RHS
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3Burnley2212822891944
4Sunderland22127334181643
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn2111462518737
6Middlesbrough22105738281035
7West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom22811326161035
8Watford2110473028234
9Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds229582830-232
10Millwall217772118328
11Swansea CitySwansea227692424027
12Bristol City226972628-227
13Norwich CityNorwich226883734326
14Queens Park RangersQPR2251072328-525
15Luton TownLuton2274112538-1325
16Derby CountyDerby2266102728-124
17Coventry CityCoventry2266102834-624
18Preston North EndPreston2241172229-723
19Stoke CityStoke2257102330-722
20Portsmouth204882535-1020
21Hull City2247112131-1019
22Cardiff CityCardiff2146111934-1518
23Oxford UnitedOxford Utd2146112137-1618
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth2146112245-2318


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