Huddersfield Town play host to Sheffield Wednesday in the first leg of their Championship playoff semi-final tie looking to return to winning ways after two successive defeats.
Wednesday also ended the regular campaign with a setback at home to Fulham, but that defeat was their first since the middle of March.
Huddersfield Town
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Regardless of Huddersfield challenging for automatic promotion at certain stages of the season, securing a place in the playoffs was always going to be considered a tremendous achievement, especially after four years where survival was their main aim.
However, while David Wagner and his players deserve every bit of credit they have received throughout the campaign, they head into their semi-final with Sheffield Wednesday desperately short of form for a side who have outlasted the majority of the division.
Just three wins and a draw from 10 games is not as disastrous as it is perceived, but losing three of their last four matches in comfortable fashion has led to many questions being asked ahead of the game at the John Smith's Stadium.
Their only goal in seven halves of football was due to a goalkeeping error from Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper Harry Burgoyne, and succumbing to each of Fulham, Birmingham City and Cardiff City came in near-calamitous circumstances.
It is often said that the playoffs are a lottery and there is some truth to that theory, but while Wagner has worked wonders to put the club in this position, he arguably has a bigger job on his hands to rediscover his team's magic touch in all areas of the pitch.
While the defence will be a concern, none of his attacking contingent has been particularly prolific all season and Nakhi Wells or Elias Kachunga - who should return from injury - need to step up in the final third at a time when their club are just three matches from history.
Recent form: WDLWLL
Sheffield Wednesday
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After last year's playoff final defeat to Hull City, it came as no surprise when Sheffield Wednesday struggled during the early weeks of this season, but they have showed their class and quality under Carlos Carvalhal to make up for lost time and earn another shot at trying to gain promotion.
Doubts over the Portuguese coach were justifiable when he posted a return of just five points from their opening five fixtures, but 76 points from their remaining 41 outings would have been title-winning form had it not been for the consistency of Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion.
It is because of that record that the 2-1 home defeat to Fulham will not create much concern on the training ground. Before that, they had put together a seven-match unbeaten streak which at this stage of the season is priceless and showed that they can handle competing in high-pressure matches.
There will be a different kind of tension heading into this tie because they are regarded as the clear favourites due to Huddersfield's recent slump, but Wednesday have enough experienced players to ensure that complacency should not be an issue.
One struggle for Carvalhal's side of late has been their lack of goals. While they have 20 points from their last 11 outings, they have not scored more than two goals in any of those games.
Fernando Forestieri carries an obvious threat but in the absence of Gary Hooper, the onus will be on Steven Fletcher to add to the four goals that he scored during April.
Recent form: WWWWWL
Team News
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Huddersfield will be without goalkeeper Danny Ward for the first leg after they chose not to appeal his sending-off against Cardiff.
Second-choice Joel Coleman will be between the sticks on Sunday, but Wagner has been further boosted by the return of Kachunga after missing four games with a calf problem.
Wednesday have received a blow with the news that Hooper will be absent from both legs of the semi-final, although he could feature in the final should the Owls progress.
Marco Matias will be absent through suspension, but Carvalhal is able to recall the players that were rested against Fulham with their place in the playoffs already assured.
Huddersfield Town possible starting lineup:
Coleman, Cranie, Hefele, Schindler, Lowe, Hogg, Mooy, Scannell, Brown, Van La Parra, Kachunga
Sheffield Wednesday possible starting lineup:
Westwood, Hunt, Lees, Loovens, Pudil, Lee, Bannan, Reach, Wallace, Forestieri, Fletcher
Head To Head
Sunday's fixture will represent the 57th time in which these two clubs have faced each other in a competitive match, with Huddersfield claiming 24 wins in comparison to 20 victories for Wednesday.
However, the Owls hold a seven-match unbeaten run in clashes with their Yorkshire rivals, with Huddersfield's last success coming in November 2013.
The corresponding fixture during the regular season back in October ended in a 1-0 win for Wednesday thanks to a penalty from Forestieri
We say: Huddersfield Town 1-2 Sheffield Wednesday
Huddersfield have lost the momentum that they had generated during the first half of the season, and their period of mixed form has come at the wrong time. Wednesday may have lost out to Fulham on the final day, but they remain full of confidence ahead of the short trip to the John Smith's Stadium.
Darren Plant
